Getting the kids started in dinghies - aged 5 and 6

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Donheist

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Hello,

I'm new to the east coast. By way of introduction, our experience of the east coast so far is sailing our oceanis 390 to our new home in woolverstone from ramsgate. That was the last leg in the trip from corfu and we are looking forward to our first season on the east coast. We've got lots of exploring to do but right now we are thinking about booking our summer hols and we are looking for something which sets the kids free a bit, and what better way but to take control of their own command?

Rockley watersports have a place in france where they get the kids started on paddleboards and kayaks and sailing optimists. They start at age 4. Adults get free access to dinghies or we can have a morning off, leave the kids, go for a bike ride etc. looks like there's a similar social feel to a flotilla. Its almost perfect ( and we may yet book it) except the accommodation is canvas-based and that is proving a bit tricky to sell to my wife. We arent so bothered about the british weather so its also a bit of a trek.

What would be great is to find somewhere on the east coast offering same sort of experience, either with some accommodation or near somewhere we can moor. Second prize is uk based and residential.

I've had a look but seem to be having no luck. Any suggestions? Anyone done anything like that in UK?

Thanks,
Mark
 
Lots of opportunities locally to Woolverstone.
Royal Harwich YC do kids training weeks but min age 8 years I think
East Anglian Sea School at Levington do RYA Stage 1 courses, no minimum age. You can probably see them sailing from Woolverstone.
Alton Water also do this course, if you prefer pond sailing. Not far by road.
Otherwise many clubs have organised weeks or weekends for kids training. eg Aldeburgh YC, Orford SC etc.
Be warned, once they start this and make friends, they won't be so keen to come on a boring old yacht!
 
We can offer RYA level one courses at Brightlingsea Sailing Club, we do courses in the school holidays or could take them out over a weekend, you can bright your yacht to Brightlingsea although not much water at low tide, if you are interested drop me a PM and I can give you more detail.
 
As DanTribe said RHYC has to be minimum age 8 years as on tidal water, the same probably - should apply at Levington as it is an RYA Rule. Alton Water does from age 5 I think. Most RHYC kids start there and progress to the Club training weeks when a bit older.
 
Hi,

East Coast is bristling with clubs offering RYA level 1,2 & beyond courses take a look on the RYA website and take your pick. The new (at least since I was a dinghy instructor) ruling of minimum 8 years for tidal waters will be quite restrictive for you at present and Alton Water, as already mentioned, is the nearest to Woolverstone.

If you're thinking of them learning to sail in warmer climes imho, Minorca sailing take a lot of beating and can offer some thrills in hairier craft to keep Mum & Dad amused while the kids are learning the basics. However, as far as I recall they specify a minimum age of 6, so that doesn't fit you this year:

http://www.minorcasailing.co.uk/

I feel it's a shame that nowadays little ones always seem to get their initial training in Oppies or Toppers, so miss out on learning the importance of helm / crew communication ad sail interaction. When we taught in Mirrors at the Deben Yacht Club, these were both key issues, even at level 1, and at the end of level 2 it was straight into race training and flying spinnakers. If you can find a cub training in 2 handed boats, that would be a bonus.
 
PeterWright said:
I feel it's a shame that nowadays little ones always seem to get their initial training in Oppies or Toppers, so miss out on learning the importance of helm / crew communication ad sail interaction. When we taught in Mirrors at the Deben Yacht Club, these were both key issues, even at level 1, and at the end of level 2 it was straight into race training and flying spinnakers. If you can find a cub training in 2 handed boats, that would be a bonus.
Click to expand...

That's a very valid point. Our kids started in Cadets, as did many of today's top sailors. It seems that the RYA prefers to promote single handers like Optimists, Toppers, Teras Lasers. For Cadets you need to go to Royal Corinthian, Stone or Waldringfield but I don't think any of those clubs offer basic training courses.
 
Gladys said:
Blackwater has their "Oppy pond" but that's all the info I know...
Click to expand...

They also do a cadet week, I know as I have sailed through it! Marconi do a cadet week where one of the instructors takes an Oppie group for the youngest kids. You can stay on site in a caravan or tent but I expect that a mooring could be arranged for the week. Really it seems that you are spoils for choice!
 
Some excellent advice, thank you very much! It looks as if a taster at Alton or even their on week of mornings might be the way as a starter and then onto a sailing club next year maybe.

Well go see them next time we are up at the boat, as well as some of the clubs.

Spoilt for choice indeed! Thanks again
 
Burnham Sailing Club Friday nights at the pond are great.... As long as kids in reception class at school they'll be fine. I believe there is also pond groups at both BSC and Royal Corrinthian cadet weeks
 
The RHYC sessions on almost all the Saturdays with a decent tide throughout the summer. I think that the first session is on April 23rd.

They do not have a minimum age limit of 8 and there is no requirement to be a member. 6 year olds have certainly been involved in the past (including ours) but if the weather is not lovely then 5 & 6 year olds are quite young to be pushed off on their own. The RHYC mornings are done under the 'RYA Onboard' scheme and the club have just raised the money to buy a new fleet of Oppies.

Any questions about RH Junior sailing PM me and I can either answer them or find the man that can!
 
When at school, Iraced cadets at Waldringfield, moving on to Fireflies and an Enterprise.

DanTribe said:
For Cadets you need to go to Royal Corinthian, Stone or Waldringfield but I don't think any of those clubs offer basic training courses.
Click to expand...

The Corinthian in Burnham still have a thriving youth training programme under the Otter banner, and they still do include Cadets, together with Optimists, Toppers, Lasers and RS Fevas. However, due to the 8 years ruling, they start their younger ones off on a pond where its's Oppies only:

http://royalcorinthian.co.uk/fleets/otters/

Sadly, too many folk allow the Royal tag to put them off this vibrant and friendly club.

But I don't suppose that helps the OP much, I think Alton Water wll be his best bet this year.
 
Buy a Mirror Dinghy and enjoy the best of the Stour, Orwell and Walton Backwaters.
I taught my children in a Mirror, they all still enjoy sailing and now 7 of 8 grandchildren (4 to 9 years) are learning to sail a Mirror. As said above, they learn much more about sail, crew and boat management in a fully rigged boat.
I paid £120 for the boat which was fully rigged and came with cover and road trailer.
Happy days!
 
Buy a Mirror Dinghy and enjoy the best of the Stour, Orwell and Walton Backwaters.
I taught my children in a Mirror, they all still enjoy sailing and now 7 of 8 grandchildren (4 to 9 years) are learning to sail a Mirror. As said above, they learn much more about sail, crew and boat management in a fully rigged boat.
I paid £120 for the boat which was fully rigged and came with cover and road trailer.
Happy days!
 
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