Introducing Young Children to Sailing

[prv]

To get all 4 of us afloat we'd really need something like a wanderer or wayfarer but they seem so heavy ( compared to a more modern design) and really need a crew so if the children don't like it i'm back to square one again. There is also of coure the capsize question in a dinghy - appreciate it may only be technically possible to capsize some safer dinghies but again it is the getting them wet and cold fear and then turning them off for ages risk.

We used to sail a Wayfarer when I was little. Not sure exactly how little, but small enough to be happily put to bed under the foredeck, on top of the buoyancy tank, the one time I did get a bit chilly . My brother is two years younger, and our parents didn't seem to have any qualms about taking us all sailing. We certainly never capsized the thing, even as us kids got older to the point it would have been fun rather than scary

Pete

 

[GrahamD]

Agree with all the comments about dinghy sailing, so do look again for a local club that has an active junior section. Even to get down there and see the other kids sailing can do a lot to encourage them to have a go, and the best fun is sailing a Topper , Oppie etc, and then going out and falling off it. If you can't get involved with a club then get a small dinghy and a rubber boat with an outboard to act as your own safety boat / to take the other half of the family on gentle trips out. The most important thing is to make sure that they have fun- you don't have to rush it and a scary experience can cement a fear for years . In my experience it is important to avoid:
(a) overambitious sailing trips - quit while you are ahead. I used to take my 5 year old out 300yards across the harbour to a beach where we stopped for a picnic and a play and then sailed home. Total time less than 45 minutes and she loved it.
(b) getting involved too quickly with the racing scene unless it your kids are burning to do it
(c) going offshore on long trips too soon

A great way to build up family experience is to hire a boat on the Norfolk Broads for a week, with a tender for those all important rowing sessions. On the Broads you can start on a motor boat and get them used to living on a boat.....messing about in boats is not a bad way to get them hooked!

Good luck with it

 

[Shuggy]

The only thing I'd add that hasn't been said is that our 3 (boating/sailing since only weeks old and now 8 and under) love to cruise in company with other family boats. It's so much more fun for them when they can play with friends and not just their parents! We're lucky in having two other sets of great friends with boats and similarly aged children.

 

[gibo993]

Excellent Thread and loads of really useful information, I have just bought a 34 foot ketch in October and have taken my boys 4 and 6 down a few times, but not been out yet and they keep asking to go back, we will do a sleep over in Jan they keep talking about it and are getting really excited and then take them out for a little motor up and down the river to see how they go.

I remember being a kid not very old (8ish) and rowing off in the tender for hours around the marina, but I could swim very well, I would be terrified if my kids did that. I remember nearly getting sucked under Norski (huge container ship) on the river Orwell back in the late 70's, my dad got me a Seagull engine after that episode!!

but some great info thanks.

 

[rotrax]

The time has come when SWMBO has nearly agreed that we can introduce the children to sailing, and I'm seeking advice from the esteemed members who may have done so succesfully ( or unsuccesfully) in the past so that we have the greatest chance of getting crew for life, with minimum risk of them running a mile.

We have 2 girls, just turned 4 and just turned 6. We sold the last boat ( a Gib Sea 84) before we had the chance to take the children out on her and couldn't afford to run a boat and have 2 in nursery, so although they know we used to sail, and have seen pictures of mummy and daddy sailing, been on boats at boat shows etc and are relatively accepting of the fact that we will do it when they are older, they have no experience od actually doing it.

We know no-one who we could use to gently introduce them and living just south of Reading, it rules out joining the local sailing club. The nearest yacht club is an hour + away and even if we joined, it would be pushing it to expect introductory trips for the whole family! - the local dinghy club is only 5-10 mins drive away but don't really think that's suitable for them at that age ( although the purchase of a laser for evening fun in the summer is appealing) so I think that rules out the "join a local club" option.

We also think it would be foolhardy to go and buy something that we think suitable until we know that the children will like it as if they don't we'd have to sell again. The original idea had been to start with the try a boat events at SIBS last september but they don;t ley young children on board those boats so thought at the moment is to charter for a long weekend or maybe 4-5 days - somewhere on the south coast - maybe Devon and probably in June and take it very very easy. e.g. a short motor on the first day - get them used to living aboard. then start sailing - v gently of course and short trips.

SWMBO is concerned that we don't know how they will react - she may need to spend all her time reassuring them etc which leaves just me to handle the boat - which i'm happy with but we're looking to bring SWMBOs brother along as another set of experienced hands.

Obviously I don't want to have to do loads of charters to settle them in as each charter will have to come out of the boat purchase fund so I'm keen that we use this year as wisely as we can so that by the end of the year I'm pestering the forum with a "What boat shall I buy thread!"

So.....

What tips for a first trip for 2 girls that might help make it a success and what else can we do?

Do not, under any circumstances book a trip to the Boat Show with Hot Liquid Sailing!

 

[Tintin]

Do not, under any circumstances book a trip to the Boat Show with Hot Liquid Sailing!

 

[skpt]

my 2 kids had a course of lessons in the summer holidays run by the local yacht club. the oppies were part funded by the rya i believe so they may have a list of clubs who may do the same thing nationwide. the village also has a private sailing school so it may be possible to take a family holiday somewhere where this could be an option.

 

[dunedin]

What tips for a first trip for 2 girls that might help make it a success and what else can we do?

...... nor a trip FROM the Boat Show with Hot Liquid Sailing either

 

[PetiteFleur]

We started with our two grandchildren when they were 4 & 6(the eldest at 6 weeks actually but she doesn't remember!), just day trips up and down the river, gradually increasing the distances and time aboard. They are 14 & 16 now and have the rear cabin to themselves and we have them for up to a week in the summer. Saw them a few days ago and the youngest said "Can we go to Holland this year?", so we have a bit of planning to do.