Mirror or Oppie?

[Guest]

OK, I know that this may not be the most appropriate forum for a dinghy question, but I'd appreciate views nonetheless.

I was planning to get an Oppie for our 6yr. old + 4 yr. old to learn sailing on the river here - pretty sheltered.

Seeing the 6yr old steering our Contessa 32 accurately (following a compass course - she ain't tall enough to see the genoa) upwind in a near F5 even with tons of weather helm, it struck me that maybe we ought to go for a Mirror instead. At least I could come with her the first few times to explain what's what. Once they got the hang of it, the 6yr old might helm and the 4 yr. old do the jib, at least for the first year.

Any views? Are they too tippy or would the mainsheet be too much of a handful? My recollection of sailing an Oppie was that it was pretty boring, especially in sheltered water.

 

[castaway]

I had a Mirror for a while, and also my daughter learnt to sail in an Oppie at a local lake when she was 10 ish. I would say that a Mirror would be a bit of a handful for a 6yr old, but more fun for you and the kids to play in. I think if you see yourself sailing much with the kids then the Mirror would be fine but otherwise Id go for the Oppie, also I found the Mirror to big and fragile as a tender, where as the Oppie might double in that role. Regds Nick

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the thoughts. What is it about the Mirror that would make it a handful? Holding the mainsheet? Or is it tippy?

 

[yoda]

Physical strength for a 6 year old. At 10 I could manage it but remember watching the younger ones struggle. Why not go for an Oppi and then in a few years move up to the Mirror, you will almost certainly get your money back on it because they are so international. My children learnt in Oppies in France and now have a Mirror because they are old enough to handle it.

Yoda

 

[castaway]

The mirror is a suprisingly fast and lively dinghy especially with a light crew on board. Im not a cautious type but I know that kids can get frightened off by what to them would appear a big and powerful boat.. Id take the Oppie route and as suggested sell it on in a few years. All best Nick

 

[Guest]

Thanks very much to both you and Castaway for the advice. You're probably right and I will end up going for the Oppie. I might try and see however if I can borrow a Mirror at the local club and see how the strength issue works out. No harm in trying, I guess. She is pretty strong for her age - she has no problem hoisting the mainsail on our 32 footer, unlike some adults!

I learnt myself on Wayfarers when I was 10 on a windy loch, and the mainsheet/boat was manageable - and I was and still am a wimp!

The other thing that still attracts me to the Mirror is that we might be able to make it from kit, which the children would love. But maybe the Oppies are in kit form too - I must check.

I guess weight may also be an issue. The river's pretty sheltered, though.

 

[poter]

What about a cat

My son learned to sail in a mirror when he was 6 also in sheltered waters..... great fun even 2 up.
But I had a hobie 16 and thought about a smaller version for the lad as they are a very stable platform for kids. Eventually went for an old hobie 14 ( or was it a prindle not too sure the grey matter is having a senior moment ) single sail ... brilliant, ok you need to back wind the sail to tack, but in a sheltered envioroment great for kids and easy to handle.


poter

 

[Guest]

Re: What about a cat

That's interesting - was he sailing the Mirror with another child (younger, older?) or with you?

A cat would be fun - I used to have a Hobie 16 myself - but I think there really wouldn't be space in the river even for a 14. Too fast, too wide and not manoueverable enough.

 

[poter]

Re: What about a cat

With another older lad sometimes...... but solo when he got hang of it......then onto the 14 after dunking himself a few times.

Pity about cat, can't you get access to a lake or beach?

As you also sailed a Hobie I don't have to tell you the fun we had, some of my best sailing moments...... Pitch polling the cat.... seeing how far you could get a hull out of the water etc.

poter

 

[Guest]

Re: What about a cat

Sounds great fun. I agree the Hobie's fantastic fun. But the lakes are too far away for us. On the river they can sail after school during the week if they want to.

 

[Strathglass]

Simon I would agree with your choice of the oppie for various reasons. It is unlikely that your children would have enough weight to sail a mirror to windward in any sort of wind.
It would be much more difficult for them to right it after a capsize. The oppie would be easier to launch and recover.
It is possible for an adult to sail an oppie but it is even more entertaining watching.
Iain

 

[claymore]

Get an Optimist.
No need to find crew, right size for a 6 year old, active class and training, no need for you to be involved in teaching her which may be better for the pair of you.
Optimists can be sailed in a far greater wind range than any other junior boat in the world, which is how they've made their mark and why they are so popular.
Only one word of warning really - don't become and "Optimist Parent"
Regards
John S - Ex Welsh Optimist Squad Coach.


The fairytale ends here

 

[chippie]

How fast does the river flow? Having sailed an optimist on a tidal river the kids found out that an hour each side of full/low was the max that was practical without us having to meet them downstream to pick up the boat.
The optimists in my opinion arent very handy at gaining against any thing other than a very slow current. If the child is already an accomplished sailor they might be a bit limiting.

 

[billmacfarlane]

Oppies are the ideal beginner's boat. Minimal maintenance , about as simple as it gets to sail and kids love them. I'd keep the Mirror for the next boat. A couple of years in an Oppie and your children wil want to move on. That's when I'd sell the Oppie and buy a Mirror.

 

[cynthia]

Our kids had 'em all, Oppie, Mirror, Topper, Hobie 13 catamaran (there is now a Dart 12 I believe). The biggest consideration for us as parents was could the kids right the boat if they were on their own in a capsize situation.

Incidently when they had their first Oppie and were going through the capsize routine they found it difficult to deliberately capsize it in order to right it again. They had lots of fun in it, learned the basics, then moved on to faster things once they had confidence and some sailing ability.

 

[duke]

I would agree, an Opi is manageable for the age group.
I think the Mirror is too heavy.
One suggestion:
get a length of 1" pipe insulation to cover the boom.
Most kids starting, complain about getting bashed as the boom is quite low and when in irons and gusty can be a bit off putting getting coshed!

good luck,
duke.

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by duke on Sun Apr 28 21:24:43 2002 (server time).</FONT></P>