Roger Long wrote:
That's interesting- I'm finding that teaching seamanship on Tropic
Bird to my normally (previously) hugely recalcitrant and
uncommunicative 16 year old son has given us common ground and is
forging a new bond between us. He's listening and learning and
we're both enjoying the process.


I think a key point here is the singular. My sons are totally
different people when either of them is with me alone. Together, they
are performing for each other and every nuance of every event is
bouncing off the other. Seeing if they can exercise the power of
getting the other one to do what they were asked to do instinctively
more important than keeping a boat from hitting a dock.

The most vital thing to the future of this boat is getting out with
them one on one but it's a tough thing to work into all the other
family agendas.


Ah, sybling synergistics, a frightening thought...

I'm lucky. Of my three, the oldest, an 18 year old girl, looks on
Tropic Bird as nothing more than a receptacle in which to hold partys.
The middle one, already mentioned 16 year old son is a different person
on the boat. The youngest, a twelve year old girl, is watching with
interest as her brother learns and I suspect we'll make a sailor of her,
too. The interaction between the two who are interested in Tropic Bird
as a boat, not a booze dispensing machine is all positive.
JM