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#1
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Single Reef Surfing on an Ensign
Taught a class to a Frenchman and his nine year old son
today. Winds were strong and tacking upwind with just a reefed main (no jib) to keep the boy calm (he didn't like heeling), we were getting nowhere, so I unfurled the jib. The boat heeled over quite a bit on a close reach and we actually surfed a bit down the backs of the waves. When heeled over, the side of the boat looks flat to the water, and boats that normally don't surf, will surf, abeit briefly. It was fun, but the boy freaked out again, so we dumped some main to flatten out the boat and he calmed down. I feel sorry for the kid. His father is pushing him a bit too hard. He belongs in a kids program starting off in light air. 5 days in an Opti didn't prepare him for this. The kid did fine motoring us in an out but didn't want to do anything while under sail. At one point he went into a fetal position. Twice he turned away and started crying when the boat heeled over hard. I think he had a bad experience on the Opti's. I think I will call up the the father and talk to him about it. I'd hate to see a kid driven away from sailing by a pushy father. He is nine but small for his age. I'd give him at least another six months before I put him back in a boat, and then I'd surround him with kids in a kids program. He would be too busy having fun to get scared. |
#2
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Single Reef Surfing on an Ensign
Bart wrote:
Taught a class to a Frenchman and his nine year old son today. Winds were strong and tacking upwind with just a reefed main (no jib) to keep the boy calm (he didn't like heeling), we were getting nowhere, so I unfurled the jib. The boat heeled over quite a bit on a close reach and we actually surfed a bit down the backs of the waves. When heeled over, the side of the boat looks flat to the water, and boats that normally don't surf, will surf, abeit briefly. It was fun, but the boy freaked out again, so we dumped some main to flatten out the boat and he calmed down. I feel sorry for the kid. His father is pushing him a bit too hard. He belongs in a kids program starting off in light air. 5 days in an Opti didn't prepare him for this. The kid did fine motoring us in an out but didn't want to do anything while under sail. At one point he went into a fetal position. Twice he turned away and started crying when the boat heeled over hard. I think he had a bad experience on the Opti's. I think I will call up the the father and talk to him about it. I'd hate to see a kid driven away from sailing by a pushy father. He is nine but small for his age. I'd give him at least another six months before I put him back in a boat, and then I'd surround him with kids in a kids program. He would be too busy having fun to get scared. I agree with you totally. When my grandkids were in the sailing program at the yacht club, one was in the Opti class and the other in the Butterfly class. Both had been out many times on our boats but had never done anything except sit in the cockpit...there were some kids in the classes who had done the Opti's 2-3 times and several that were on their 3rd and 4th session in the beginner's Butterfly...the younger grandchild chose to stay with the Opti's and the older went on to do a few in the Laser class (cuter boys...hey..it's an incentive..) Like with any sport, if you push them past their comfort point and there is no visceral reward, tehy are going to abadon the sport at a later date...Dad needs to get a clue...he will turn his kid into a wimp if he keeps forcing him into situations that scare him like that... |
#3
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Single Reef Surfing on an Ensign
katy wrote: Bart wrote: I feel sorry for the kid. His father is pushing him a bit too hard. He belongs in a kids program starting off in light air. I agree with you totally. When my grandkids were in the sailing program at the yacht club, one was in the Opti class and the other in the date...Dad needs to get a clue...he will turn his kid into a wimp if he keeps forcing him into situations that scare him like that... Spoke to the father. He is leaving the boy at home tomorrow and will be looking for a good kids program for the boy next summer. |
#4
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Single Reef Surfing on an Ensign
Bart wrote:
katy wrote: Bart wrote: I feel sorry for the kid. His father is pushing him a bit too hard. He belongs in a kids program starting off in light air. I agree with you totally. When my grandkids were in the sailing program at the yacht club, one was in the Opti class and the other in the date...Dad needs to get a clue...he will turn his kid into a wimp if he keeps forcing him into situations that scare him like that... Spoke to the father. He is leaving the boy at home tomorrow and will be looking for a good kids program for the boy next summer. Great....maybe with 8 minths off he will forget what happened and have a good experience with kids his own afe. |
#5
posted to alt.sailing.asa
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Single Reef Surfing on an Ensign
katy wrote: Bart wrote: katy wrote: Bart wrote: I feel sorry for the kid. His father is pushing him a bit too hard. He belongs in a kids program starting off in light air. I agree with you totally. When my grandkids were in the sailing program at the yacht club, one was in the Opti class and the other in the date...Dad needs to get a clue...he will turn his kid into a wimp if he keeps forcing him into situations that scare him like that... Spoke to the father. He is leaving the boy at home tomorrow and will be looking for a good kids program for the boy next summer. Great....maybe with 8 minths off he will forget what happened and have a good experience with kids his own age. It turned out the second day of sailing would been nice for the kid. Light winds and no heeling. Still it is better to have taken the pressure off the kid and give him some authority in his own life. |
#6
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Single Reef Surfing on an Ensign
On 7 Oct 2006 13:39:24 -0700, "Bart" wrote:
Taught a class to a Frenchman and his nine year old son today. Winds were strong and tacking upwind with just a reefed main (no jib) to keep the boy calm (he didn't like heeling), we were getting nowhere, so I unfurled the jib. The boat heeled over quite a bit on a close reach and we actually surfed a bit down the backs of the waves. When heeled over, the side of the boat looks flat to the water, and boats that normally don't surf, will surf, abeit briefly. It was fun, but the boy freaked out again, so we dumped some main to flatten out the boat and he calmed down. I feel sorry for the kid. His father is pushing him a bit too hard. He belongs in a kids program starting off in light air. 5 days in an Opti didn't prepare him for this. The kid did fine motoring us in an out but didn't want to do anything while under sail. At one point he went into a fetal position. Twice he turned away and started crying when the boat heeled over hard. I think he had a bad experience on the Opti's. I think I will call up the the father and talk to him about it. I'd hate to see a kid driven away from sailing by a pushy father. He is nine but small for his age. I'd give him at least another six months before I put him back in a boat, and then I'd surround him with kids in a kids program. He should sail with RB.. |
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