Where to start… first dinghy

[Novice2024]

Right, myself (f - 55kg and 5’4) plus two kids (8 and 11)

My limited experience: RYA 2 / couple of wks in the Med sailing Picos, Zest and recently Laser 4.7

11yo - Topaz and Zests only properly sailing single-handed this summer
8 yo - nothing meaningful

What is the best way to get ourselves on the water / dinghy racing? We have just joined a club. Instructor suggested buying a Graduate for myself and the kids. Tried it recently and found it quite big / hard to manage and so uncomfortable..

I am struggling with the ‘right’ combination:

1) do I buy a boat for myself plus kids - Graduate / Heron? They will not be with me all the time. Sailing with 11yo is fine but have not taken both out…
2) or just me? If so, Topper or Laser 4.7? Topper and Laser classes at club - Laser seems 90% men. Topper has more female participants… lake can be gusty. Loved my limited experience with Laser. (It was an absolute joy) But not sure Laser 4.7 even considered to be part of Laser class for club races etc? Topper looks a bit dinky in comparison to Laser.
3) in any event kids need (at least one?) boat - all kids seem to sail Opis until 14ish. Assume not a step back for 11yo. Only other class option is Topper.

Any advice / suggestions much appreciated!

 

[KevinV]

Depends what your aim is - my own lifelong love of sailing came from mucking about with my father and siblings in a rough old tub, then a rather nicer one. As we became teens we took the boat out without dad, late teens brought girlfriends aboard. Not a single race raced, huge amounts of fun had, much quality time shared, mutual respect earned.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

The Op wants to go racing.

Find and join a local club, find out what classes they sail there and start with the most popular class that appeals.

 

[Novice2024]

I’ve joined a local club. I’m struggling with whether I go for a single or double handed (kids or solo?) and of single handed - Topper or Laser 4:6.. this size Laser (which I think suits my size) is considered youth category?

Also I don’t want to end up with 4 boats - one each for kids plus me and one for all of us… seems totally extravagant

 

[Novice2024]

So I suppose the question is, is it better for me to build up more experience in single handed before I start taking kids out (racing) in double handed?

 

[mickywillis]

Most clubs will have "hire" boats that you can use. Perhaps of various styles and types, so worth speaking to the sailing committee of your club and asking?
Also speak to other club members, they will be a wealth of information, everyone was a beginner once!
Are you an inland or coastal club? Choice of boat depending on location can be critical.

 

[ashtead]

A lot depends on where you wish to sail and clubs available plus the question of budget. If desire is to get the children into club racing as cadets then select a club with good instructors but remember even race tuned Optimists for 8 year olds are not cheap. For the 11 year old they might be sailing soon with a mate in some form of R/S fever type craft but it really depends on what’s the one class in your club.
As for you maybe crewing for another might be a way to gain insight and experience before committing. A full sail Lazer in any wind takes some weight but maybe read a few Lazer books -to be honest sailing a 4.7 in a blow somewhere warm on hols with kids might be a way to see what you like. Do they have club boats or keelboats at your club to sail with others?
If you are near a town like Lymington your choice is very different to sailing in a gavel pit or a Merlin rocket on the Thames. I’m sure if you feel comfortable saying an area other forumites might suggest some clubs. I grew up sailing mirror dinghy and fireballs but boats move on so what we and many forumites had as youth no longer are fashionable in world of foiling moths and such like .

 

[Puffin10032]

You need to decide whether sailing is going to be a "me" or an "us" past-time. If it's just "me" then a single hander makes sense. Also be aware that the whole Opi/Topper thing is a conveyor belt set up to feed children into the RYAs Olympic machine. It's borderline child exploitation in my opinion (I can expand on the subject if you want to know more). Only you can decide if you'd be happy for your children to be part of that.

 

[oldbloke]

The good thing about Toppers, Lasers and Oppies is that you can easily buy and sell them with minimal depreciation. The boat(s) you need now are not what you will need in a few years time. If you just want one singlehander for all of you the only one to get is the Topper, the children are both too small for even a 4.7 Laser, but that will change.
The Graduate is not large or excessively uncomfortable, that impression is a reflection of were you are on your "journey". Unless your club has a fleet of Mirrors or Herons I would stay away from them, they are v slow and the children will consider them unacceptably boring and uncool.

 

[PeterV]

Good advice from oldbloke above. You are clearly early in your sailing experience as a Graduate is actually small, light and a rewarding boat to sail. Do not make the mistake of buying a boat you’re completely comfortable with now as you’ll soon find it dull and unresponsive as you gain more experience. Depending on what your club sails anything like a Graduate, Miracle, Enterprise or Lark would let you sail with your children as crew and gain experience together. A Topper would enable anyone of you to sail at a time.

 

[Novice2024]

You need to decide whether sailing is going to be a "me" or an "us" past-time. If it's just "me" then a single hander makes sense. Also be aware that the whole Opi/Topper thing is a conveyor belt set up to feed children into the RYAs Olympic machine. It's borderline child exploitation in my opinion (I can expand on the subject if you want to know more). Only you can decide if you'd be happy for your children to be part of that.

Yes I agree re “me” or “us” - it might need to be “me” and “them” until I get some more experience.

Interesting re Opi/Topper. It would be great to hear your views on that.

 

[Novice2024]

The good thing about Toppers, Lasers and Oppies is that you can easily buy and sell them with minimal depreciation. The boat(s) you need now are not what you will need in a few years time. If you just want one singlehander for all of you the only one to get is the Topper, the children are both too small for even a 4.7 Laser, but that will change.
The Graduate is not large or excessively uncomfortable, that impression is a reflection of were you are on your "journey". Unless your club has a fleet of Mirrors or Herons I would stay away from them, they are v slow and the children will consider them unacceptably boring and uncool.

That is very true re my “journey”.. the Club does have Herons so the Graduates are considered more fun / faster..

 

[Novice2024]

Good advice from oldbloke above. You are clearly early in your sailing experience as a Graduate is actually small, light and a rewarding boat to sail. Do not make the mistake of buying a boat you’re completely comfortable with now as you’ll soon find it dull and unresponsive as you gain more experience. Depending on what your club sails anything like a Graduate, Miracle, Enterprise or Lark would let you sail with your children as crew and gain experience together. A Topper would enable anyone of you to sail at a time.

It was a ((very) old club Gradate in light winds - perhaps a newer model might be lighter and more responsive

 

[johnalison]

I think you will need to get a boat both for yourself and the children. The choice for both will depend on where you are and what the club does. At exactly that age we bought our two children a YW Cadet, back in 1977. This is now something of a niche boat, but it had the advantage of being demanding to sail, unlike, say, an Optimist. My impression is that you will need a 2-handed boat for yourself that can be sailed one-handed if necessary, and similar for the children. There is nothing like the feeling to be gained from being in charge of your own boat and they won’t get this feeling from only sailing with their father, even if he can restrain his Captain Ahab character when on the water.

 

[doug748]

My answer FWIW, is to get one Topper (very inexpensive and therefore easily passed on) and an Enterprise (provided there are at least some in the club).
This would give you plenty of flexibility, lively sailing and modest outlay.

.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

…. only sailing with their father, even if he can restrain his Captain Ahab character when on the water.

At f, 55kg and 5’4, I’m going to hazard a guess that the OP is the Mum.

 

[johnalison]

At f, 55kg and 5’4, I’m going to hazard a guess that the OP is the Mum.

Even worse.

 

[Bobc]

Maybe consider something like an RS Vision? You can sail yhem single handed or double handed (or with 2 kids). They are virtually indestructable a d easy to sail. Most clubs have them as school/training boats.

 

[oldbloke]

What kids like is other kids, if the others sail oppies get an oppie. If they sail Toppers get a Topper. The gang is important, not the boat.

 

[paris]

It all depends on where you sail, what your goals and budget are. Wherever you a going to sail there likely to be a topper there, they are cheap and great for learning on (light adults and kids), I would also look at getting possibly an rs feva as they are great for learning on, and you can just about sail them three up if you had to. The good thing about them is when the kids are competent they could race it together and you could get yourself something more sporty like a streaker or laser etc…