Family Sailing Intro Weekends?

[Will33]

I would like to take my 9 year old son sailing, to allow both of us to get an introduction to sailing, he loves the sea (we have a motor cruiser which we use regularly on the coast) and is keen to try his hand at sailing. Ideally i am looking to find perhaps a two day 'hands-on' intro to sailing, and i am more than happy to travel somewhere warm for a long weekend!!

Does anyone have any recommendations on where we might be able to do something on these lines and is this the most sensible way to go get some hands on experience?

Will

 

[Twister_Ken]

Sounds like a great idea. Weekend skippered charter somewhere in the summer?

Back pages of the yotmags for charter cos.

 

[st599]

Many RYA centres run a "Start Yachting" Course.

http://www.rya.org.uk/CourseDetails?id=SYC

 

[AliM]

Phone one of the sailing schools and ask their advice. If you go on one of their standard packages, you may find yourself with a group of ruff-tuff 18-year olds, or middle-aged ladies for that matter, which would probably put your son off for life. If you could arrange a weekend with just the skipper and you two, he (and you) should have a super time, and yes, that would be a brilliant start.

There are a few sailing schools near you, based at Levington, Burnham and probably Lowestoft - google them, phone them and ask!

 

[Will33]

Thanks everyone for the advice, i will make a few calls

Will

 

[Piddy]

I've always avoided "wam" places to sail untill I can sail my own boat there. I would hate to think I liked it more and wouldn't want to sail in somewhere like the Solent (which is the only practical place for me).
I'm sure if SWMBO was asked where she would rather be, Turkey or the West Indies would spring to mind instead of a wet, chilly morning in Newtown or Lymington.
I suppose my point is that it isn't the same and getting afloat in this country does always include putting up with the weather, good or bad.

My kids started with us just after birth and still sail with us 18 and 16 years later - their choice. We assumed they would have chosen other interests by now but it doesn't seem so yet!

Cheers