Re: Digest Number 453
Harry,
I really think the answer is to start them in a rowboat tied to
shore with them wearing appropriate flotation. Once they gain
confidence in themselves and the boat, then you can try to "kick it
up a notch" with a sailboat.
I remember being scared out of my wits in an old O'Day Sprite.
For good reason, my Dad was at the helm. He is not one of the best
watermen in Massachusetts. Two years later we bought an Enterprise.
It went like a bat out of hell. We were at the age of 9 or 10 by
then, and our instructor had us capsize it and bail it out 6 or 7
times prior to us venturing too far out of the harbor. Another
confidence building excercise.
Perhaps the best experience in a sailboat that I had as a child
was in a Bullseye, (Herreshoff 12.5 with a small cuddy). The
instructor had all of us sit to leeward and try to tip her over. I
don't think he would do that now with us at an overweight adult
middle age. Wonderful boat to learn on.
The key element is to let the child build confidence in themselves
to handle the boat and the elements. Scaring a child that is too
young will only be detrimental to all summer plans in the long run.
My kids used to make me go slow in Diablo. Now, they can't go
fast enough!
David Jost
I really think the answer is to start them in a rowboat tied to
shore with them wearing appropriate flotation. Once they gain
confidence in themselves and the boat, then you can try to "kick it
up a notch" with a sailboat.
I remember being scared out of my wits in an old O'Day Sprite.
For good reason, my Dad was at the helm. He is not one of the best
watermen in Massachusetts. Two years later we bought an Enterprise.
It went like a bat out of hell. We were at the age of 9 or 10 by
then, and our instructor had us capsize it and bail it out 6 or 7
times prior to us venturing too far out of the harbor. Another
confidence building excercise.
Perhaps the best experience in a sailboat that I had as a child
was in a Bullseye, (Herreshoff 12.5 with a small cuddy). The
instructor had all of us sit to leeward and try to tip her over. I
don't think he would do that now with us at an overweight adult
middle age. Wonderful boat to learn on.
The key element is to let the child build confidence in themselves
to handle the boat and the elements. Scaring a child that is too
young will only be detrimental to all summer plans in the long run.
My kids used to make me go slow in Diablo. Now, they can't go
fast enough!
David Jost
> Message: 10I worry about kids and boats. Apart from the obvious dangers (and I keep
> Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2001 20:14:12 -0800
> From: "Harry W. James" <welshman@...>
> Subject: Re: Boat for a small kid
seeing drawing sof boats for children without any flotation!), there is also
the danger of frightening a child so much that they won't get into a boat
again for years, if ever.
So what is the right age to start? I think it's easy to get carried away
with the romance of boats and children. I've sailed a lot with my kids and
this is where we are: Ewan, 7, may sail a small boat just a little this
summer, but will spend most time learning to helm my 13ft sloop-rigged
dinghy with me in it. My daughter, Ella, 5, will just about be ready to hold
the foresheets on a light wind day when no-one's in a hurry.
Cheers, Gavin