Sailing course for an 8 year old - Solent

fastjedi

fastjedi

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I would like to enrole my son on a sailing course this year. I am thinking he would learn more / have more fun as part of an organised group. I have just searched the web and was shocked to find prices in the region of £100 - £175 a day! ....... worse still, I fear day one would be spent pointing to parts of the boat and explaining how a tiller works (he can helm the cruiser / name all the parts / tie a bow line no probs)

Our boat is based in Portsmouth Harbour. Any more viable suggestions welcome. Plan B is to dust of the Walker Bay sail kit / follow him in the inflatable.
 
What sort of course?

As you have your own yacht on which he sails, I assume you mean a dinghy sailing course?

If this is the case, why don't you look at reservoir-based dinghy clubs local to you which offer RYA Stage 1 and 2 training, and have an active racing fleet for kids. Much more convenient than hacking down to the Solent, and if he takes to the racing he can do it at weekends in the winter in a wetsuit rather than in your valuable summer yacht-sailing time.

Our 5-year old sometimes comes on our yacht in inshore waters, and sometimes messes about with me on our old plywood Gull dinghy on the Thames (£200 on eBay, awkward gunter rig but its ever so much fun). When he's 8, if he's into it, then there's a good - if up-its-own-*rs* - dinghy club local to us where he can learn to sail (and race) himself.
 
fastjedi said:
I would like to enrole my son on a sailing course this year.
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I'm afraid you've gotthe wrong idea about how RYA centres operate!
Why not go to the RYA website and look up youth sailing http://www.rya.org.uk/coursestraining/courses/dinghymultikeel/Pages/youthbeginners.aspx which will show you what the various youth courses cover, and includes a useful search engine to RYA training centres.
Local to you, for instance, I found 2-day courses for £80.
Another route might be to find a club that has an active youth section: my eldest daughter learned to sail at Warsash Sailing Club (while I helped out with other people's kids -- much better for everyone than trying to teach your own!)
 
Sailing course for an 8 year old

Why not try the ICC in Salcombe. They do residential and day courses from their converted Mersey ferry. You could take your boat and use the ICC for showers and food.
 
i'll second TB's suggestion... a club with a good youth section, preferably for an 8yr old, one that is Optimist centric will get the kids out on the water pretty quickly.... and they'll have a LOT of fun.... both of mine loved it, and learnt a great deal in a very short space of time.... (we were members of Grafham Water SC)

Mind you, I did suffer afterwards with being dragged round the Oppy circuit for a while!
 
Join Warsash Sailing Club, they have a section that does just what you are seeking for 8yr olds+, a series of 'good fun sessions' from which they emerge with good sailing skills - boats provided.
 
Most sailing clubs have a junior section and often a number of club owned boats.

Both my Sons joined and loved it so much I had to buy them a mirror to race.

Training was all free, nominating for races was free; that all changed later when thay wanted to race me though.

They are both keen sailors today, though only one owns his own boat.

Good luck.:)
 
Portsmouth Watersports Centre

Try Portsmouth Watersports Centre.

I have no connection but I and other members of the family have attended courses there.

They run youth sailing course for £135 per weekend & it is similar costs for RYA 1 and RYA 2 weekend courses.

It is conveniently located (Eastern Rd Portsmouth) and would be easy to drop of your Son when visiting the boat for the weekend.


Regards & good luck.


Paul H
 
paul_h23 said:
Try Portsmouth Watersports Centre.

I have no connection but I and other members of the family have attended courses there.

They run youth sailing course for £135 per weekend & it is similar costs for RYA 1 and RYA 2 weekend courses.

It is conveniently located (Eastern Rd Portsmouth) and would be easy to drop of your Son when visiting the boat for the weekend.

Regards & good luck.

Paul H
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+1 ... beat me too it...

http://www.portsmouthwatersports.com/portsmouth_outdoor/DinghySailingImproverCoursesBasicWeekend

...for good youth based fleets I recommend either of the Emsworth sailing clubs....
 
Emsworth Clubs

Another vote for the clubs at Emsworth.

Both use the mill pond to start kids sailing in Optimists, which as it's non-tidal means the sessions run at the same time every weekend. My son started at 6 and has RYA 1 & 2 and still only 8.

Even better it's shallow enough for the instructors to stand up in so they are constantly being taught as they go round. :cool:
 
I'd obviously second Tim's recommendation of Warsash Sailing Club,but also there is a training session operating at the Hamble River Sailing club also in Optimist and a small single-hander like a Laser.
In both instances membership of the Sailing club is needed; at Warsash it is more economical to join as a family membership especially if more than two children.
The Warsash club is a RYA approved training centre but not a creche- the parents get involved in their child's progress and have a good social circle with other parents as a result.
Some of the instruction is carried out at a local Diving School pool,so swimming capability is useful.
The Warsash Sailing Club Administrator will have all the information to hand and be able to answer questions or refer you to the Organiser concerned.

Telephone Sharon on 01489 583575 and or visit their website/Email


ianat182
 
Excellent, Thank You, plenty of leads to follow up!

The sailing clubs near home are on the River Severn. Having sampled the experience on my Laser a few times it's no place for an 8 year old! I am familiar with ICC Salcombe and have used their facilities, but would only be viable during our summer holidays based on sailing over with the boat.

Not so keen on spending several years doing the Oppy circuit! I was hoping the exercise would complement our sailing + my gravel pit sailing days are over!
 
emsworthy said:
Another vote for the clubs at Emsworth.

Both use the mill pond to start kids sailing in Optimists, which as it's non-tidal means the sessions run at the same time every weekend. My son started at 6 and has RYA 1 & 2 and still only 8.

Even better it's shallow enough for the instructors to stand up in so they are constantly being taught as they go round. :cool:
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Hehehe - I've seen instructors in waders acting as downwind/upwind marks and "assisting" with rounding - looks great.
 
mcframe said:
Hehehe - I've seen instructors in waders acting as downwind/upwind marks and "assisting" with rounding - looks great.
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In the days when Crab Searle still had his sailing school in Bath Road I did my first solo sail in a (wooden) Optimist in the Mill Pond - still remember it to this day - one the thrill of being off on your own for the first time, and two, the smell of the mud... :D
 
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