Will Sailing ever be the same?

rwoofer

rwoofer

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Lounge frequenters might be aware that my SWMBO has just delivered triplets - 3 wonderful girls. We were planning a family and I had taken this into account in my boat ownership plans - how we would do it, what we would do etc. etc.

Triplets have kind of blown any of these plans apart and I'm having to seriously contemplate whether it is even feasible to use a boat in the next few years. What makes it harder is that I have only recently bought a fab boat in the guise of an RM880. If I was to sell my RM, I could only replace by buying new again, loosing a fair wedge in the process.

So what does the esteemed panel think?

Has anyone taken more than a single baby afloat as a couple?

At what age do you think we could realistically get the family afloat?

Should I be realistic and sell the boat, cause when I'm ready for one, I'll probably want a more spacious family orientated boat?

All thoughts welcome!
 
Don't rush into any decision.....

I know of several boats that sail with three or more youngsters on board....

You may need to change plans for a while.... eg sailing with a third adult to assist in child care etc...

But, I reckon that where there is a will there is a way....

PS.... I also reckon that sailing with babies is whole lot easier than sailing with toddlers..... so start getting 'em used to it early!
 
Congratulations and well done the pair of you.


I haven't a clue how you will get on - I only sailed with 1 baby, an 8 yr old and an 11yr old. If that experience was anything to go by, you will fit out the cockpit sole with large cushions, remove the table and de risk the whole area. Fill it with toys. The kids will happily play in that playspace, and just roll to the other tack when required. I did this on my Evolution 25 very successfully.
 
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So what does the esteemed panel think?


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Put a couple up for adoption. Or at least one, I mean, contingency is wise on a boat, but I don't think there's a need for two backups.

Seriously though, congratulations. I think you should definitely work something out. I've already made my mind up that if I ever have children, they will be on the water at the first opportunity. It's a bit harder for you, but worth plugging away at since the education they will get on the boat is priceless.
 
Not sure boat is big enough (29ft) for 3 adults plus babies and all the gear. Basically it's quite a performance orientated boat, with a tiller that sweeps the cockpit and a mainsheet track in the cockpit. There are no real out of the way places in the cockpit as it has been designed for singlehanded use with everything to hand. With a singleton I would have gone for the car seat in the companionway option, which would have worked well. Wouldn't know where to put 3 car seats!

To answer other post, SWMBO can sail, but is not a confident sailor and would not like to be in charge of the vessel. I'm sure I could get her to give it a try, but if the trail sail with kids didn't work, I think it would be a long time before we would get out again as a family.
 
Sailing would never have been the same even with one... so that's that question answered!

Looks an awesome boat: far more suited to handling triplets than our Pandora would have been... but it seems to me that you just need to pay a LOT of attention to how you sail single-handed - free up one of you to play at all times.

Get the boat set up so that you can do everything without any assistance... so tiller-pilot / windvane, vhf and all nav functions accessible from the helm and so on... and then just go for it!

Look at it this way: if you are going to take all three (as sole adult) on a foray down a busy high street into town when they are (say) three... you'll be operating in situations far, far more challenging than you'll ever encounter within the confines of a sea-worthy yacht being skippered in a responsible manner.

My own daughter is given huge license (more than most, and more than her mother can bear contemplating) but knows there's a certain tone of voice that indicates "just do it"... and I've yet to have a major concern afloat despite almost always being single handed.

ps. Don't worry too much about cockpit space: the cabin will have huge apeal for a long time... and with the right means of clipping on, you should be encouraging, rather than restricting, ventures forward in all normal sailing conditions - wrapping children of any age in cotton wool doesn't do them any favours in the long run...and so long as they can't end up overboard and drifting off... they'll soon learn to take responsibility for their own actions!
 
Thanks Nick,

Here is a picture of the team:

TheTeam.jpg


Born 5 weeks premature, but all came home 4 days after delivery.

Sorry for the non-boaty contribution!!
 
Sounds like opinion seems to be swaying to giving it a go.

However, the girls are 10 days old now and just doing the feeding, nappies etc 24 hours a day is taking it out of us. Even a car trip at the moment requires planning and help, which is why I'm questioning our ability to take them sailing. No point sailing if the whole exercise is too knackering for us to enjoy it.....or will things change?
 
well you've got a ready made racing team there! The smallest can be foredeck, the biggest can be trimmer, and the bossy one is tactician!

I'm still young myself (21 /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif ) and i remember being taken out on my dad's works yacht (dehler 34) at about 5 years old and i caught the bug after that, it wasn't until i was 13 that i managed to convince my parents to start stumping up the money to let me start sailing more seriously, i'm sure there are many people on here in the same boat as me (ba dum tish!) so i'd agree with what a lot of people are saying, start them young
Congratulations to you and your fair lady /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Life will not be the same. Ever. But if your wife is healthy and the babies happy (and vice versa), once you come through the hard times, the valley of tears and despair (sleepless nights etc) your life will be much richer. And so will your sailing.

1) Don't sell now. Very small babies can be on board... you'll just need a willing crew (eg you will SWMBO sails /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif). In fact very small babies are easier to manage than toddling toddlers. You might as well start early.

2) You will not need a bigger boat until the kids are MUCH bigger. By then, they may well tell you they don't like sailing. At which point you will go back sailing alone or with SWMBO whilst the grandparents enjoy their heirs. Or something like that.

3) you seemed enthused by your RM when new: are you already fed up?

Best wishes and bon courage with the family /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Lounge frequenters might be aware that my SWMBO has just delivered triplets - 3 wonderful girls. We were planning a family and I had taken this into account in my boat ownership plans - how we would do it, what we would do etc. etc.

[/ QUOTE ]

39 seconds into:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkl3eXAHTRM

Congrats! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

From ages 1-4, another hand to look after crew might be useful, but you'll be fine (if single-handing) for this season.
 
You have to ask the question, what are we (you and your partner) sailing for? Our own pleasure? To introduce our kids to the pleasures of sailing? Or to enhance family life in the round?

The difficulties that you mention make the first something of a challenge, if not unattainable. As for the second, I would argue that messing about in dinghies is a much more effective (and considerably cheaper) way of introducing youngsters to water. For the third, you are better off with the flexibility to do different things as the children's abilities and tastes develop.

Sell the dream boat. You won't regret eight or so years of sacrifice.
 
Just to gainsay Freestyle. Keep the boat. I bought my boat originally because I had kids, so gave up the selfish sport of Golf.

Keep the boat, it will be difficult but very rewarding.

Oh, you might need a bigger dinghy. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
First, may I congratulate you on your entry to parenthood, and wish you and your wife all the best.

As regards your query: In a port near here, some years ago, I saw a delightful sight -- Three children, aged 10 down to about 4+ took charge of the boat, got ready for sea, started motor, did everything necessary to get under way, AND THEN GOT UNDER WAY, manoeuvring out of a somewhat difficult position against the harbour wall. When out some 10 meters, Mother appeared on deck briefly, saw all was OK and went back below. Dad appeared at some point near the harbour mouth and proceeded to prepare sails, etc.

To my eyes, a sight to behold. The 3 children were obviously very experienced and capable. And their parents had confidence in their abilities.

There is only one way that can come about -- be on the water from month 1, often, and in all situations.

Oh, I forgot to mention, the boat was about a 26 footer, older class, probably with no stern cabin, and certainly with less interior volume than a more modern craft, so it could not have been the most comfortable boat for 5. The excellent weather, of course, would help, but they were from South Brittany, or at least their registration number was from thereabouts.

Plomong
 
Congratulations! Tiggertoo is right-keep the yacht! All our 3 children were introduced early, one at 2 months, 1 at 18 months and 1 at 6 weeks. We kept our 26ft. boat until they were 10, 8 and 4 and only then bought a bigger boat.
There are additional factors to consider in addition to the excellent advice you have already had about preparation etc.
Other holidays with children are very expensive, especially as they get older. We had the use of a family caravan which was just about affordable what with site fees, petrol etc. and also tried camping which was a greater paraphanalia than going to the boat, but as time went on we realised that the boat was the best providing that you pace yourself.
Only sail on quiet days. Anchor off plenty of beaches. Find the local parks. Find space for buckets and spades, fishing gear and lots of games for rainy days and make a cockpit tent-vital. If I were taking the children now, I'd have fitted a fridge, shore power and hot water. They didn't exist 30 years ago and I remember a constant problem was finding ice for the cool box.You don't have to give up, but until they are older you must pace yourself, the wife and the kids. When they are older there is nothing like it for character building. We cruised over the years from the Clyde to Brest and all over the Irish Sea until the kids drifted away to university. Now in their 30's one owns a yacht, one charters very frequently and the third would love to sail again, but her husband gets very seasick. Look at it as a long term project. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Congratulations!!

Yes, as other forumites have stated, it will be easy to take them out before they can toddle. You just need somewhere safe for them.

On my boat I have a cot that runs the length of the starboard saloon berth. It is a lee cloth held in place with a stainless steel pole that run from the forward bulkhead to the chart table. Perfect as a safe place for the little 'uns until they can stand.

Get out on the water and enjoy, but an extra pair of hands would be a good idea. Not to help sailing, but to look after your precious cargo. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
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