What are people's thoughts? I have 2 young boys and want to get them sailing ASAP. Is 6 too young?

at 5 and 6 they need a very light rig, Ezzy have a kids set up with a 1m and 1.5m that is ideal for that age group, also need a board with a centre/dagger board to stop sideways drift. I bought my daughter the slightly older kids rig that has a 2m and 2.5m and she found that very easy, doesn't want to use the 2m now coz it's TOO SMALL!!

It's good if they can learn to swim competently first.

My 10 year old daughter is doing well with a 2.5m rig this year but struggled a year or two ago.

Make sure to get a kids rig - not only a small sail but a short mast and boom as well - and a small wide board with a centreboard - we use a Starboard kiddy which has been great - because the small rig on a big learner board makes it very slow to turn

had a chance to see 2 little kids ( 6 and 10) use a starboard kids rig

it was 2m and easy for the older but too heavy for the younger

it reminded me of the old seaskip rigs we had for our kids who could easily sail along from 4 yo mainly because the gear was much lighter, very small diameter alloy tubing for boom and mast

the sails were like the old windsurfer sail material so not well cut or efficient but that is not important at all at their age...success and fun is

555,

I can barely stay on my board...I dunno about taking the kids with me, although on a steady day, big gear with a jacket on them it might be the go.

My oldest is only 3 and a half but he loves the beach and surf. I'm already teaching him to surf on my mini mal so I'm sure he'll get a real kick out of windsurfing. The youngest is only 16 months wil sit on the mini mal with total stability and ride little waves. He chucks a tanty when you try to take him off. Both of them are fearless in the ocean which is a little concerning while they're still learning to swim but at least they don't have fear getting in the way. I'm looking at an Ezzy kids rig and I'll just keep an eye out for an appropriate board. Unfortunately I cant take them out on my gear cause my biggest board is a 79l wave.

7 years old is the youngest we teach at the school and with a small rig (1.5-2.5m). Most get crusing out and back within the first half hour. Key is to get them on a very stable board (wide and buoyant) and a very light rig. Get them out in dead flat water with only a small breeze. If they keep falling off or rig too heavy, they will give up in no time.

At the Youth nationals at Mandura 2 weeks ago, we had the windsurfer out for anyone to try. It was non-stop getting used every single day.

Oli, why dont you have a word with Clint (you know who I mean)

pretty sure he has one of those Mistral windrider things, which would be ideal for little kids to have their first go.

Taught a 5year old at work today. And my basic rule would be if they are big enough to keep themselves afloat they can be taught to windsurf on some level. Either on a big board with an adult or on a tandem. or on their own.

oli37 said...

My oldest is only 3 and a half but he loves the beach and surf. I'm already teaching him to surf on my mini mal so I'm sure he'll get a real kick out of windsurfing. The youngest is only 16 months wil sit on the mini mal with total stability and ride little waves. He chucks a tanty when you try to take him off. Both of them are fearless in the ocean which is a little concerning while they're still learning to swim but at least they don't have fear getting in the way. I'm looking at an Ezzy kids rig and I'll just keep an eye out for an appropriate board. Unfortunately I cant take them out on my gear cause my biggest board is a 79l wave.

oli37 said...

and want to get them sailing ASAP. Is 6 too young?

Haven't read the entire thread, but here's my 2 bits.

As background, I am a member of an NPO club that teaches kids once in a while on various gear, I have taught friends for 25 years, and have taught my own 2 mongrels.

Firstly, the "ASAP" is scary. IMO there's a diff between "ASAP" and "eventually": when we start too young, they come off after a while, even when they have success early. Something about shifting focus I suppose. Conversely, when they're older (10-12yo), once they get going, you have more chances that it is for good.

The way I do it is: nice and easy, no pressure, if they don't like it no prob. The next outing (desire) has to come from them. This way, there is no disapointment.

Technically: anything that floats is good enough. Make sure the rig is small, the booms must be shoulder-high - very important. Cut the friggin' mast if must. Nice morning on-shore wind, light, shallow waters and nice sandy bottom. It's more playful and less stressful then.

None of that "we're going at 10am in 3 days" - you haven't got Buckley's of getting the abovementioned conditions then. It's gotta be: "wow, looks perfect now, wanna go?".

Keep it playful, falling is OK (they must see you fall). I like to rest newbies every 20-30 minutes. Get them off the board do other things like have a snack or help someone else learn. This gets their mind off and they're better when they come back. (This applies to freestyle too, I find.)

Never bring it to the point of exhaustion. Kids that like it stay all day, then burn out. Instead, you almost want to cut it off when they have a good time, that builds excitment for next time.

Hope you're not going to be one of those parents that buy brand new gear every year: a 2.3 at 6yo, then a 2.5 and 2.9 at 7yo, and so on. This is not a Tupperware party, there has to be a bit of fighting for the conditions. Bad message on the environment too, me reckon. [I had local sailors blame me for not getting right sail area for wind strength gear for my kid. Well, at 14yo, my son is not great, but he's now better sailor than those veterans. Ironic, huh?]

But hey, that's me! Have fun.

BTW: one of mine came off and never came back windsurfing after 1-2 years. The other one is into freestyle and we have a ball. Same strategy, 2 outcomes. That's kids for ya.

worst thing you can do is push them into it and scare them away for a couple of years

Pierre knows his kids stuff!

It depends on when they are really keen but certainly by 9-10 YO most kids are coordinated enough and can swim a bit and can handle a small kids rig.
A small kids rig is THE most important thing, along with very light breeze and a safe, confidence giving, enclosed location.
Here is a tip from personal experience. Kids feed on each others enthusiasm. Girls in particular, seem to like to do these sorts of things in a flock. My daughter always has a much better time and is more enthusiastic when one or two of her girlfriends is doing it with her. Whether it is Windsurfing, Surfing or Skiing.

Started at 9 1/2 with this:

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and had a ball with a friend









the flock:



Even more fun if you have a sail each. This was a winner:

Great stuff mate, nice pics. I also have fond memories of the early days.
Daughter is 18 now, and it's a different ball game, but whatever.

My son turns 3 next month and his present is the 1m and 1.5m Ezzy kids rig package. The plan is to muck around in the pool on a 155l starboard Go (which we've already taken in a few times and played around on with no rig) and the small sail with me helping him. We'll play around in the yard and on the beach with the board and sail as well. I don't expect him to get up and sailing or anything for quite some time (probably years) however it is just to get him playing around with the sails. Once his confidence is up I'll go out with him on some calm water somewhere and he can hang onto the boom while we float around.

His favaourite movie at the moment is the Windsurfing movie. He keeps asking to watch it and then sits there with his little toy men making them do loops and pretending he is falling off a board in the longe room. He says he wants to go windsurfing so we'll see how it goes.

I think as long as it's fun and there isn't any pressure to actually do things until he is ready and confident there isn't any problem with starting young- it's more a game than anything.

Cheers all for your advice. By ASAP i meant when when we go on beach/windsurfing holidays, the whole family can have some fun. I'm using it as an excuse to get the missus to learn as well and if my dastardly plan works, we'll be doing family trips to Gnaraloo (bay) sooner. We'll be like the Partridges but without all the singing, dancing and crap. I agree, no pressure and fun is the key so we'll see how we go.