tangomoon
Well-Known Member
Which dinghy would the panel say is the best for youngsters of 10 - 18 range to learn to sail. Topper, Pico etc. Oh yes and why please? Thanks in anticipation.
Best boat for youngsters 10-18 to learn on
- Thread starter tangomoon
- Start date
michael_w
Well-Known Member
420.
It will be bit of a handful to start with, because the buoyancy tanks are well outboard they tend to turn turtle rather quickly. This problem aside they are probably the best youth boat going. Kite, trapeze, all the toys. I loved mine to bits. Good RYA training etc.
Don't let your kids get stuck in heartbreakers like the Optimist, Mirror, Cadet etc. They're OK for basic training, but get 'em into a real boat asap. The other alternative, if the money runs to it is a 29'er, aka a baby skiff.
Hopefully Morgana will be along soon to back this argument up!
It will be bit of a handful to start with, because the buoyancy tanks are well outboard they tend to turn turtle rather quickly. This problem aside they are probably the best youth boat going. Kite, trapeze, all the toys. I loved mine to bits. Good RYA training etc.
Don't let your kids get stuck in heartbreakers like the Optimist, Mirror, Cadet etc. They're OK for basic training, but get 'em into a real boat asap. The other alternative, if the money runs to it is a 29'er, aka a baby skiff.
Hopefully Morgana will be along soon to back this argument up!
johnalison
Well-Known Member
I learned on a clinker-built lugsail thingy and then the Cadet & Firefly, but the serious answer is whatever is popular in your club - you do belong to a club, don't you?
DanTribe
Well-Known Member
Rather than choose a boat, better to choose the social scene that the kids will enjoy.
Check out the boats used by the local club and whether your lot want to be involved in that particular set.
Not much point in having a perfect boat if you want to race and there's nobody else to play with.
I sailed Cadets and so did my two sprogs. There was and still is a great "family" atmosphere in the class and we all still have contacts worldwide with sailors and parents.
Many ex Cadets are to be found in Olympics and other top level events.
Check out the boats used by the local club and whether your lot want to be involved in that particular set.
Not much point in having a perfect boat if you want to race and there's nobody else to play with.
I sailed Cadets and so did my two sprogs. There was and still is a great "family" atmosphere in the class and we all still have contacts worldwide with sailors and parents.
Many ex Cadets are to be found in Olympics and other top level events.
oldestgit
Well-Known Member
I second the 420, but probably would want something more demanding by about 16 or so.
As someone else said, check what the youngsters at the local club sail as its great for them to go class racing.
Enjoy.... Peter.
As someone else said, check what the youngsters at the local club sail as its great for them to go class racing.
Enjoy.... Peter.
morgandlm
Well-Known Member
Take them on a Turkey or Greece Sunsail holiday where they can get some basic RYA instruction, try loads of different boats and have warm water to fall into.
Morgan
Morgan
G
Guest
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[ QUOTE ]
I learned on a clinker-built lugsail thingy and then the Cadet & Firefly, but the serious answer is whatever is popular in your club - you do belong to a club, don't you?
[/ QUOTE ]
Second this ..... get to a club ... enrol them ... join in the cadet racing / regatta stuff ... best fun they will ever have ... lots of support ... learn faster than anything you try to teach ... the competitive spirfit will get them going ....
Doesn't matter whether it's a Mirror, Topper, Laser etc. - the group aspect makes it all better !
I learned on a clinker-built lugsail thingy and then the Cadet & Firefly, but the serious answer is whatever is popular in your club - you do belong to a club, don't you?
[/ QUOTE ]
Second this ..... get to a club ... enrol them ... join in the cadet racing / regatta stuff ... best fun they will ever have ... lots of support ... learn faster than anything you try to teach ... the competitive spirfit will get them going ....
Doesn't matter whether it's a Mirror, Topper, Laser etc. - the group aspect makes it all better !
flaming
Well-Known Member
I think it depends on what you (they) want out of it. Is the aim of learning to sail is just to be comfortable enjoying time on the water?
Or is it to become competent racers?
For the first the topper simply cannot be beat, although the pico comes close.
For the second, join a club and find out what the kids sail. And if possble get them sailing with other people, not their sibling, adds to the motivation!
Or is it to become competent racers?
For the first the topper simply cannot be beat, although the pico comes close.
For the second, join a club and find out what the kids sail. And if possble get them sailing with other people, not their sibling, adds to the motivation!
William_H
Well-Known Member
My wife and I have taught something like 300 kids to sail on 10 ft dinghies that our club have. I reckon however that the easiest boat to learn on is a small keel boat about 20 ft. ie can't capsize and can't sink.
Our local scouts have bought 2 of these and the kids really do well on them. especially when the wind comes up. The trick is to give them total control and after just a little tuition send them out without a teacher.
However if you want them to learn in a dinghy..... A boat with a jib is far easier to sail to windward. A boat with side tanks means a fairly easy recovery form capsize. The ones we used took ages to bail out again. The main must be reefable (not common on dinghies) this expands the range of wind the kids can handle easily. A stronger (steadier ) wind is easier to sail in provided the boat is not overpowered.
Which comes to the hardest part, is you as teacher, assessing the weather and what it is going to do. Very calm is no good and of course strong winds will terrify the kids.
You need to have a RIB or dinghy with motor to teach the kids from. If they capsize you need to be nearby so they don't get scared but try to limit the amount of instruction, they won't take it in.
The first lesson we gave the kids was how to capsize then right the dinghy. For this we tethered the dinghy to a jetty so there was no worry about it floating away. I would get in the water with the kids (a wet suit helps) and one of my party tricks was to turtle the dinghy them get underneath the hull with them and show there is nothing to be afraid of.
Next lessons are a departure from the beach a tack and return to the beach all on a broadreach (hopefully) If kids get afrais you have to get in the dinghy with them. This is quite a challenge for a big person. As you have to squat in the middle while the kids helms while balancing the boat and hopefully teaching them. Mind your head for the unexpected gybe.
Always teach the kids to sail up wind initially as they can get very despondent trying to beat back to base.
Anyway good luck. We had a fair few kids that were frightened off sailing but we also got some who took to it well.Includinng 2 sisters who became national champions of Flying Ants (10ft skiff).
So don't just assume your kids will love it. It does take real courage for kids to learn in a tiny dinghy. olewill
Our local scouts have bought 2 of these and the kids really do well on them. especially when the wind comes up. The trick is to give them total control and after just a little tuition send them out without a teacher.
However if you want them to learn in a dinghy..... A boat with a jib is far easier to sail to windward. A boat with side tanks means a fairly easy recovery form capsize. The ones we used took ages to bail out again. The main must be reefable (not common on dinghies) this expands the range of wind the kids can handle easily. A stronger (steadier ) wind is easier to sail in provided the boat is not overpowered.
Which comes to the hardest part, is you as teacher, assessing the weather and what it is going to do. Very calm is no good and of course strong winds will terrify the kids.
You need to have a RIB or dinghy with motor to teach the kids from. If they capsize you need to be nearby so they don't get scared but try to limit the amount of instruction, they won't take it in.
The first lesson we gave the kids was how to capsize then right the dinghy. For this we tethered the dinghy to a jetty so there was no worry about it floating away. I would get in the water with the kids (a wet suit helps) and one of my party tricks was to turtle the dinghy them get underneath the hull with them and show there is nothing to be afraid of.
Next lessons are a departure from the beach a tack and return to the beach all on a broadreach (hopefully) If kids get afrais you have to get in the dinghy with them. This is quite a challenge for a big person. As you have to squat in the middle while the kids helms while balancing the boat and hopefully teaching them. Mind your head for the unexpected gybe.
Always teach the kids to sail up wind initially as they can get very despondent trying to beat back to base.
Anyway good luck. We had a fair few kids that were frightened off sailing but we also got some who took to it well.Includinng 2 sisters who became national champions of Flying Ants (10ft skiff).
So don't just assume your kids will love it. It does take real courage for kids to learn in a tiny dinghy. olewill
MERMAID137
Well-Known Member
Hi,
best to get them something cheap and cheerful to start with plus light enough to move around themselves, I would suggest a Mirror, plenty on ebay for a few hundred pounds
Steve
best to get them something cheap and cheerful to start with plus light enough to move around themselves, I would suggest a Mirror, plenty on ebay for a few hundred pounds
Steve
snowleopard
Well-Known Member
What is clear from all these replies is that there is no single type of boat to suit all. They need something forgiving to learn the basics then something more exciting so they don't get bored. I agree absolutely with the approach of sticking with whatever the club uses rather than ending up in the handicap fleet. They will probably want to go straight to the fastest boat which should be discouraged until they show they know enough to handle it or they may be put off, either by frightening themselves or being humiliated by coming last all the time.
2-handed is better than 1 as long as there are others to sail with though a Laser 1 takes some beating when it comes to fun. The Laser Pico however is horrible.
2-handed is better than 1 as long as there are others to sail with though a Laser 1 takes some beating when it comes to fun. The Laser Pico however is horrible.
Chris_G
Well-Known Member
Having just been round this loop, the best thing to do is to find a good local club that has an active junior section, get them involved with that then buy what ever class the club focuses on as all the club training and events will be geared to that class. My oldest boys (10,8 &6) have just got in Cadets (ideal for ages up to 17) as it's a good 2 handed junior boat that is actively sailed across the UK. Our club at Waldringfield has a brilliant junior fleet and organises junior training sessions most weekend thoughout the season and also brings in pro coaches (Mike MacNamara et al) for some of the sessions . If the clubs round you mainly sail single handed then the choices tend be either an optimist or topper though at age 10 a topper with full sail will still be a handful but there's plenty of room for an adult to join them for ballast. When they get older, say 16-17, then they can hopefully progress up to the likes of 420/29er. I think the key is not to buy a boat that will scare them and is designed for light weight crews. Hope this helps.....
tangomoon
Well-Known Member
Thanks to all for the input - much appreciated - Sorry didn't make it clear have posted another linked post to clarify the situation.