Teaching kids to sail

[Searush]

Having got the GP14 to take the grandkids out & get them involved with actually sailing the tub, my next step is to set up the Laser so I can set them loose on it. I have bought an old Radial lowermast & I am now seeking an old sail for it. I have posted a request on the "Wanted" forum.

They are boy-girl twins & fight like cat & dog half the time & are best mates the other half. What do you think my chances are of getting them to work together to sail the Laser? They are both excellent swimmers & will have B/A's & wet suits so it won't be a big deal if they fall in.

 

[telford_mike]

My parents (God bless 'em), who never sailed, sent me on a week long school course at Chasewater when I was 12. I'd previously sailed (once) in a neighbour's GP14 at South Staffs so of course I knew it all

The school course was the best thing I ever did. I learned to sail and enjoyed it all my life. Now cruising in Greece every summer and loving it.

Get them to do a residential school course if you can - they'll pick it up in no time and they'll have a wonderful gift for life.

 

[onesea]

Having got the GP14 to take the grandkids out & get them involved with actually sailing the tub, my next step is to set up the Laser so I can set them loose on it. I have bought an old Radial lowermast & I am now seeking an old sail for it. I have posted a request on the "Wanted" forum.

They are boy-girl twins & fight like cat & dog half the time & are best mates the other half. What do you think my chances are of getting them to work together to sail the Laser? They are both excellent swimmers & will have B/A's & wet suits so it won't be a big deal if they fall in.

Make it and be ready for the punch ups, I have elder sister we used to race together it was either fighting or doing surprisingly well (on the rare occasions there was no fighting).

We used to sail together on a Sigma 33 the skipper learn to keep us at opposite ends of the boat...

My tip by another boat identical boat!

 

[Bosun Higgs]

Cardiff Bay Yacht club have a fleet of Oppie sailing kids aged 6 upwards with a full time training staff. Some older members moan about the parents clogging up the car park and the kids dripping wet clothing where they shouldnt but its a real pleasure to see the youngsters start sailing even with competitive parents urging them on. Several national squad sailors have come up this route.

If only more yacht clubs would devote some ytime effort and cash to bringing on the next generation of members.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

I think as long as you have a way of towing them back in, then its a great idea. Send them out and let them sort it out but keep a respectful distance so they cant pander to the adult. If it really does end in tears, then go and pull them in. Myself and other kids learned this way but we did have a rescue boat floating about somewhere. Slowly but surly we managed to get the boats moving under our own command and with no adults present. So do it Searush, I guess you know what you are doing anyway.

 

[nickd]

The problem with a laser is there is little for the crew to do, but get in the way which will cause more friction. Me and a mate used to sail his laser in a blow with him on the helm and me on a "trapeze" which was just a bit of rope attached to the mast but it allowed me to hang off and balance the boat, we could really get it humming!

 

[onesea]

The problem with a laser is there is little for the crew to do, but get in the way which will cause more friction. Me and a mate used to sail his laser in a blow with him on the helm and me on a "trapeze" which was just a bit of rope attached to the mast but it allowed me to hang off and balance the boat, we could really get it humming!

Also means that there is no reason to bark orders at the crew as for the string round the mast.. Hmm if my sister had that she would of hung me!

Then by the time we sailed 420's together I was helming she was crewing. If she was on the wire and pi55ed me off I would just ease the main sheet a little, till the the noise on the end of the wire became gar-balled...

Ohhhh the good times

 

[Searush]

The problem with a laser is there is little for the crew to do, but get in the way which will cause more friction. Me and a mate used to sail his laser in a blow with him on the helm and me on a "trapeze" which was just a bit of rope attached to the mast but it allowed me to hang off and balance the boat, we could really get it humming!

I was planning to have one on the sheet & one on the tiller & maybe swop from time to time. The idea is to encourage co-operation before they practice swimming.

 

[merlin3688]

I think as has been mentioned a kids course would be good, the RYA run courses for kids (Youth Stages 1-4). We charge £150.00 for a four day course which can cover 2 stages, the kids have a great time and learn to sail the correct way, all of the courses are run by Dinghy Instructors and over seen by a Senior Instructor, centres are all over the UK.
We use the Topaz as a 2 man boat, adding the jib when double handed, gives the crew something to do.

 

[johnalison]

Our children were three years apart, which is probably more than ideal, and they used to squabble all the time except for brief interludes of co-operation. We bought them a Cadet when they were about 8 & 11. As far as I remember, things went very well and they learned how to work together, and easily beat all the other crews in the compulsory capsize drill, though not often in the racing.

 

[dunedin]

What age are the twins? The laser can be a bit challenging, even with Radial rig. Depending on age an old Topper (or Oppie if younger) can be better as flatter hullshape (and tupperware hull) more forgiving

 

[onesea]

I think as has been mentioned a kids course would be good, the RYA run courses for kids (Youth Stages 1-4). We charge £150.00 for a four day course which can cover 2 stages, the kids have a great time and learn to sail the correct way, all of the courses are run by Dinghy Instructors and over seen by a Senior Instructor, centres are all over the UK.
We use the Topaz as a 2 man boat, adding the jib when double handed, gives the crew something to do.

Can I correct that to the RYA way... There are many other ways just as correct...

Not trying to Hijack a thread (Oh and yes me and sis both went on to be SI's).

 

[Searush]

What age are the twins? The laser can be a bit challenging, even with Radial rig. Depending on age an old Topper (or Oppie if younger) can be better as flatter hullshape (and tupperware hull) more forgiving

They are 10 1/2 this summer. Yes I know it will be challenging, that is part of teh idea. I am currently trying to find a cheap Radial sail, I will NOT be buying more boats (or buying courses that cost as much as a boat). But thanks for the suggestions & I am flattered that you think I am rich a Croesus.

 

[Uricanejack]

Having got the GP14 to take the grandkids out & get them involved with actually sailing the tub, my next step is to set up the Laser so I can set them loose on it. I have bought an old Radial lowermast & I am now seeking an old sail for it. I have posted a request on the "Wanted" forum.

They are boy-girl twins & fight like cat & dog half the time & are best mates the other half. What do you think my chances are of getting them to work together to sail the Laser? They are both excellent swimmers & will have B/A's & wet suits so it won't be a big deal if they fall in.

Just take them sailing. You will enjoy spending the time with them. If you make it about fun they will enjoy it and remember for ever.

I bought a boat with the plan to teach my kids to sail. A bit bigger a 24ft. We had fun.
My niece did dingy sailing course over the summer and also had fun.
My kids don't like courses or camps my niece does lots of them.
I used to take kids sailing on afternoons on a 20ft boat. the attention span is about a few seconds and spotting seals much more important than listening to me yet by doing every thing and spotting seals its amazing how fast they pick it up.

 

[zzyyxx]

Key things that put them off will be being too cold, and being crowded by adults..

Give 'em a bit of space, put them in control and they'll either learn or drown...

Should have added, my dad always crowded a bit, just basically over-protective, and it put me off for a long time.

 

[DanTribe]

Key things that put them off will be being too cold, and being crowded by adults..

Give 'em a bit of space, put them in control and they'll either learn or drown...

Should have added, my dad always crowded a bit, just basically over-protective, and it put me off for a long time.

I think you have the right attitude.
Also remember,
1 big boats are boring
2 sailing with adults is boring
3 being told what to do is boring
4 sailing your own boat with other kids is cool.
My kids started in Cadets, but brother and sister in one boat was civil war. In separate boats they were, and still are, best mates.
The RYA seem to have down on two handed boats for kids, but consider Oppies, Teras, Toppers etc.Maybe a club where kids sail, rather than an organised training scheme run by boring teacher types.

 

[Sybarite]

My daughter had sailing classes at primary school.

 

[colvic987]

Having got the GP14 to take the grandkids out & get them involved with actually sailing the tub, my next step is to set up the Laser so I can set them loose on it. I have bought an old Radial lowermast & I am now seeking an old sail for it. I have posted a request on the "Wanted" forum.

They are boy-girl twins & fight like cat & dog half the time & are best mates the other half. What do you think my chances are of getting them to work together to sail the Laser? They are both excellent swimmers & will have B/A's & wet suits so it won't be a big deal if they fall in.

so the peace and quiet of abermenai gone for the summer...................................... oh maybe next year then, unless they have upgraded to a 470

 

[Searush]

so the peace and quiet of abermenai gone for the summer...................................... oh maybe next year then, unless they have upgraded to a 470

GP & Laser go to Bala, that way the furthest I have to go too rescue them is the other side of the lake.

But the general idea is to see if I can get them to sail the GP with me as a pasenger offering guidance if needed. I wanted to do it last year but their Mum insisted on coming & didn't want me taking the two of them out with just me. She knew I was "up to something".

On the Pentland, my son will hand, reef & steer but isn't into the passage planning bit. My daughter is just a passenger, which is why I am trying to get the twins actually sailing a boat for themselves. But we shall see.

 

[grumpy_o_g]

I was planning to have one on the sheet & one on the tiller & maybe swop from time to time. The idea is to encourage co-operation before they practice swimming.

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.