stav
Well-Known Member
Since there has been a couple of threads about getting the family on to the boat and away I thought I might briefly share our experience over the last 5 years.
We made it from Jersey to Granville last weekend, about 30 miles. Left Friday straight after work and came back Sunday. About 5 hours each way.
We have two girls, 5yrs and 18 months.
With the first daughter we made it away a couple of time while she was 18 months to 2 yrs but I took the boat and they followed on the ferry: Granville, Guernsey and St Malo.
Then spent two years doing up a house: a lot of work very limited sailing.
Second daughter arrived. Wife suggested giving up the boat. I looked at bigger, smaller boats etc. Ended up having a bit of luck and was able to give up the marina berth and take a tidal mooring. Very much cheaper. (Though harbours want to make this a marina so have a boat until they do that). So over the last two years have really worked on eldest daughter:
Just having lunch on the boat, using the main halyard as a swing, playing hide and seek on the boat! Then a friend has brought his 9 yr old along and we 4 have been for a few sails. I have also managed a few sails with just daughter and me. We have also spent a handful of afternoons anchored in a local bay and dinghyed ashore (no sailing). Daughter really likes being on the boat so I think my wife has given up on fighting it and accepts my reasoning that if we wait for the youngest to be older we will have lost the eldest. If that makes sense.
So we eventually loaded everything on board with a reasonable forecast and headed off and we all had a great time, with a great sail there starting at 8knts breeze and rising to 16knts on a close reach with the autohelm on and my 18month old falling asleep in my arms (magic). Bit of a disaster coming back with a solid F5 on the nose but just gunned the engine and reefed the main and every one was happy and did not slam once. My wife even suggested going in to the marina so we could have dinner on board and then go home.
Key issues for me have been reducing cost, plus I have less money tied up in the boat (It was a new car or a project boat). I can handle the boat very comfortable singlehanded once out of a finger berth and happy to ask for help. The motion of the boat is steady and I have yet to broach her or even needed to dump the main to complete a manoeuvre, though it can make things easier. The cockpit is completely netted in and I bring the dinghy either towed or stowed on deck. I also bought a new rib style dinghy with inflatable floor and outboard which is just used with the family. Therefore cleanish and not covered in paint or leaking slightly etc. In fact the five year old loves going fast and real adopts a cool pose when travelling at speed!
I am pleased it is working at the moment and felt ten feet tall going in to Graniville last weekend but am not trying to show off but hope to show that planning and persistence can pay off. I also accept I only need to do one thing wrong and it can all crumble in on me and the teenage years are ahead........... But I hope this gives someone some ideas.
We made it from Jersey to Granville last weekend, about 30 miles. Left Friday straight after work and came back Sunday. About 5 hours each way.
We have two girls, 5yrs and 18 months.
With the first daughter we made it away a couple of time while she was 18 months to 2 yrs but I took the boat and they followed on the ferry: Granville, Guernsey and St Malo.
Then spent two years doing up a house: a lot of work very limited sailing.
Second daughter arrived. Wife suggested giving up the boat. I looked at bigger, smaller boats etc. Ended up having a bit of luck and was able to give up the marina berth and take a tidal mooring. Very much cheaper. (Though harbours want to make this a marina so have a boat until they do that). So over the last two years have really worked on eldest daughter:
Just having lunch on the boat, using the main halyard as a swing, playing hide and seek on the boat! Then a friend has brought his 9 yr old along and we 4 have been for a few sails. I have also managed a few sails with just daughter and me. We have also spent a handful of afternoons anchored in a local bay and dinghyed ashore (no sailing). Daughter really likes being on the boat so I think my wife has given up on fighting it and accepts my reasoning that if we wait for the youngest to be older we will have lost the eldest. If that makes sense.
So we eventually loaded everything on board with a reasonable forecast and headed off and we all had a great time, with a great sail there starting at 8knts breeze and rising to 16knts on a close reach with the autohelm on and my 18month old falling asleep in my arms (magic). Bit of a disaster coming back with a solid F5 on the nose but just gunned the engine and reefed the main and every one was happy and did not slam once. My wife even suggested going in to the marina so we could have dinner on board and then go home.
Key issues for me have been reducing cost, plus I have less money tied up in the boat (It was a new car or a project boat). I can handle the boat very comfortable singlehanded once out of a finger berth and happy to ask for help. The motion of the boat is steady and I have yet to broach her or even needed to dump the main to complete a manoeuvre, though it can make things easier. The cockpit is completely netted in and I bring the dinghy either towed or stowed on deck. I also bought a new rib style dinghy with inflatable floor and outboard which is just used with the family. Therefore cleanish and not covered in paint or leaking slightly etc. In fact the five year old loves going fast and real adopts a cool pose when travelling at speed!
I am pleased it is working at the moment and felt ten feet tall going in to Graniville last weekend but am not trying to show off but hope to show that planning and persistence can pay off. I also accept I only need to do one thing wrong and it can all crumble in on me and the teenage years are ahead........... But I hope this gives someone some ideas.
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