Solenting tomorrow

[solent clown]

A couple of our kids have still never sailed, so in a new years resolution style, we are taking them out in the morning between 10am and midday for a crash course. Looks like the only gap in the wind is at that time, and matches the tide perfectly.
If any of you lot are about give a wave to the shouty arguing gaggle aboard the little 18 footer Allouette.
If nothing else you might earn some money selling footage to You've been framed. We will be messing on the river about between Northam bridge and Ocean village.
Any advice on teaching them? I was planning to just sail it, explain how it all works, then give one the jib, and another the mainsheet and tiller and see how they go.

 

[pcatterall]

Good luck... enjoy it! I guess the only advice with beginners is not push them or try to get them doing things before they are comfortable.Failure in this would make them reluctant to sail again!PS avoid the term crash course!!

 

[VicS]

A couple of our kids have still never sailed, so in a new years resolution style, we are taking them out in the morning between 10am and midday for a crash course. Looks like the only gap in the wind is at that time, and matches the tide perfectly.
If any of you lot are about give a wave to the shouty arguing gaggle aboard the little 18 footer Allouette.
If nothing else you might earn some money selling footage to You've been framed. We will be messing on the river about between Northam bridge and Ocean village.
Any advice on teaching them? I was planning to just sail it, explain how it all works, then give one the jib, and another the mainsheet and tiller and see how they go.

You dont say how old

You might consider buying this Ladybird book ... usually can be found on ebay, often for next to no money
Well written, accurate and suitable for kids from about 8 to 80

 

[solent clown]

You dont say how old

You might consider buying this Ladybird book ... usually can be found on ebay, often for next to no money
Well written, accurate and suitable for kids from about 8 to 80

Mate, I have about 10 copies of that. As a adult I learned to sail purely from that book, it is a running joke now, and I get sent them or given them as gifts all the time! Karen had my copy framed.

 

[solent clown]

Our three youngest are 15, 17, and 18. Other two have long since flown the nest. We always kept sailing as our escape, but we have been nagged in to it now they are older. Hopefully it will stick, and they can take on Alouette and the dinghys.

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

Best practice is to sail a figure-of-eight course and rehearse tacking. Give each one about 10 mins on helm. The course should be across the wind; reach, luff-up, tack and reach again. When they all know how to change direction with the wind on the bow, and understand what is happening, change direction round the course and show them how to gybe (only in light to moderate wind).At first this should be gybeing from Beam Reach to Beam Reach, with the boom just flying across. Again allow 10 minutes each. Ensure they understand what is happening. This is actually more than enough for a first session!
Another session will introduce different Points of Sail ; (horseshoe up- and down-wind course). At this point you can introduce centreing the Mainsail, to gybe without dramatic banging and swerving. Introduce MOB Manoeuvre at an early stage, vital if you fall overboard yourself. Then you can teach them to use the boat-control skills thus acquired, to come alongside anything that presents itself.
Above all make sure they enjoy the experience!

 

[pcatterall]

Mate, I have about 10 copies of that. As a adult I learned to sail purely from that book, it is a running joke now, and I get sent them or given them as gifts all the time! Karen had my copy framed.

As I move toward the dreaded 8 oh I feel that this might just be the book I have needed since I started sailing 40 years ago.

 

[solent clown]

As I move toward the dreaded 8 oh I feel that this might just be the book I have needed since I started sailing 40 years ago.

Smashing book, it got me on the water. Sometimes simple and concise is the best. And of course written in an age when it was still ok to just get out there and have a go. I am not saying dont go on courses, just that some of us have to make our own foul ups and learn by doing.

 

[richardabeattie]

Just wrap them up well or they'll never come back!

 

[solent clown]

Just wrap them up well or they'll never come back!

They are tough in that respect, used to driving in cars with no bodywork in all weathers. Today was torture in driving rain at 50mph. Sailing will be a blessed relief to them

 

[johnalison]

Don't assume that they will immediately look excited or seem interested. They might or they might not. Just keep them more or less occupied, have plenty to look at and don't get alarmed. For the last, just bluff your way through as if you've been doing it all your life.

 

[solent clown]

Don't assume that they will immediately look excited or seem interested. They might or they might not. Just keep them more or less occupied, have plenty to look at and don't get alarmed. For the last, just bluff your way through as if you've been doing it all your life.

love that advice.

 

[Wansworth]

If they complain of sea sickness turn back...my brother ever forgot my father refusing to turn about....in 1970!

 

[prv]

And of course written in an age when it was still ok to just get out there and have a go.

Tom Cunliffe’s “Complete Day Skipper” (despite sharing a name with an RYA course) takes that same approach for bigger boats in the present day.

Pete

 

[prv]

If they complain of sea sickness turn back...my brother ever forgot my father refusing to turn about....in 1970!

I think you’d have to really work at it to make someone seasick while pottering about underneath the Itchen Bridge

Pete

 

[RIBW]

Above all make sure they enjoy the experience!

My wife hates boats and has never sailed but , unknown to me, booked herself on an all-female training course in Cowes, in an attempt to accommodate my lifelong interest.

The ********* (Pick your own adjective) instructor took them out on Day 1 into F7. All newbies were sick/cold - you know the rest......

I have had my latest boat for several seasons since then, my wife has never seen it or even asked to see a photograph of it.

Happy New Year to all
Bob

 

[RIBW]

I think you’d have to really work at it to make someone seasick while pottering about underneath the Itchen Bridge Pete

Having locked out of Bristol, we had someone seasick under the Clifton suspension bridge (about half a mile?).
Bob

 

[dunedin]

You must have seen a different forecast from the one I am looking at (Met Office Inshore Waters) - 24 hour forecast:
Wind
West 7 to severe gale 9, backing southwest 5 to 7, then veering west or northwest 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.

Will rarely convert novices to keen sailors in one day - but can easily put them off in one trip.

 

[solent clown]

The Itchen is a law unto itself with winds. It is very grey out here, but not feeling a breath of wind at home though forecast locally is 9 -10 kts gusting to 16 -18. We are about 500metres from the water as the crow flies. Wish us luck, a couple of rather jaded and hung over looking teenagers here getting ready, and one about to be dragged from her bed.
Not so much Down To The Sea In Ships, more Down to the river and sick.
What could possibly go wrong. Oh yes, now it has started raining...

 

[rogerthebodger]

My wife hates boats and has never sailed but , unknown to me, booked herself on an all-female training course in Cowes, in an attempt to accommodate my lifelong interest.

The ********* (Pick your own adjective) instructor took them out on Day 1 into F7. All newbies were sick/cold - you know the rest......

I have had my latest boat for several seasons since then, my wife has never seen it or even asked to see a photograph of it.

Happy New Year to all
Bob

Thats what happened to my SWMBO in October 2009 sailed from Gosport to Cowes on Sat afternoon in F7. Fortunately the sunday was nice and calm for the sail back so turned out OK. I sailed and another boat but left Gosport on the Friday night and had a late breakfast on the Satday so missed the F7. Left on the Sat PM for Southampton then sailed back to Gosport and the Sunday.