Teaching kids to sail

[SamanthaTabs]

As long as you make it fun they will love it. Dinghy sailing/ racing is great, hobbie cats likewise. If they don't like it, don't push them. Our 18 year old was not interested before but now proudly has her STC's, powerboat 2 and comp. crew..day skip next.

 

[Searush]

They're going to see the one on the helm as "driving" and therefore in charge and most important I would think. Maybe introduce the idea of offshore/big boat racing where the helmsman is just another cog in the wheel and the tactician and nav are the decision-makers? Thinking about it, even in offshore powerboats the throttleman is the most important.

I think you are over complicating it, they will just take turns. Tactician & navigator are not realistic terms for 2x 10 year olds titting about on Bala Lake.

I would simply explain that helmsman steers (& therefore chooses direction) & sheet is trimmed to suit - providing the helmsman isn't trying to go too close to the wind. That way they are both thinking about sail trim & wind direction. But we shall see, I don't have a Radial sail yet, altho I may shortly be getting a full size sail to cut down, thanks to a kind offer from Sandgrounder.