WA
24 posts
Hi - just starting to think about getting my almost 6 year old sailing- any tips from people who've taught their kids and advice on kids rigs would be greatly appreciated.
thanks
NSW
2005 posts
As with all windsurfing teaching, I find a most important topic is boom height.
Must be armpit (p.c. 'underarm') high. For learning in light winds with a light rig, this gives a 90 degree angle which optimises the understanding of the forces for the student. Don't bother with the arms 2 feet above the head, as many adult learners do. Unfortunate.
6yo is young, I have waited a bit older with my own mongrels. If you still do: on-shore winds only, so that the wind is clean and no stress of being deported out. Go out in the morning - winds are rising then, therefore clean. Waves are also lighter in the morning, even on lakes. Don't go in a decreasing wind, i.e. end of arvo after a 20 knot day. That kind of wind is flaky for the student.
Pref. in 1 foot of water, nice sandy bottom, with the sailing happening alongside the beach. This way the kiddo is always close to shore, in a comforting environment. Removes one more stress point. An on-shore wind with a straight shoreline will guarantee that.
Keep the outings short. This keeps the interest up, and I find learning is much better that way. 3 times 20 minutes is much better than a straight 60 minutes. Anyways they get tired (regardless of age) and don't know it, then get frustrated, etc.
Make sure you keep the bar low at that age: "we're gonna just screw around", "will take years", "first year is balance only", and so on. That way any progress is a plus.
I wouldn't go around buying one board and rig for each year and knot. I see some (rich) people do that - what a waste. A 1-2k$ rig for each of the first 5-7 years. Waste society...
Where do you live?
QLD
213 posts
If you have a really big learner board at how I think at that age your best option is to take an older 6m sail and then what you can do is cut a lower hole in the luff sleeve and attach a mini boom. This means you can sail around with your kid and he can really enjoy it. Through teaching over the years I have found the biggest problem for really young kids learning is holding up the rig so if all they have to do is hang on under you it will be more fun.
The more expensive option which we use quite often for really young kids is a Tandem. This allows you to sail with say a 5 or 6m and have your kid with a 1.5 on the front. you can still hold up their rig for them and it gives them a chance to experience fast windsurfing because you control most of the power.
At 6years I would definitely go with a 1.5 or 2m sail the lighter the rig the better.
WA
24 posts
Thanks for all the info- we live in perth Pierre- and I am still doing my sailing at pelican point which is a good spot for beginners. I have one of those big old mistrals we could use but not as good as the Go boards I reckon- will have to keep an eye out for a second hand one, I have got some old sails so good idea about the second boom underneath.
Will definitely keep sessions short and fun- just wanted the kids to get a taste of what their mum and dad are so hooked on and the reason we spend every weekend on the river!
Windykid- sorry you got confused- there is a lot to think about when you are learning isn't there?
Thanks again everyone- very useful info.
