I would like to continue the discussion of promoting youth sailing.
My thoughts are that we need to make it a fun activity for kids. More like a game than a race.
I would like to shoot for the 8-13 age group.
I'm not concerned with size. Small, Tall doesn't matter.
The idea of a 12ft boat still has a lot of merit.
I feel as though it is not as important to keep the boats all the same world wide or even state wide for this discussion.
Maybe a certain group could build 6 or so boats for their program or area that meets their needs and fits into what they can do.
Mixing in other small cats is also fine. Maybe start with what you can dig up and discuss the boat building project with your group. This is a social activity after all. (Mark..)
No one person needs to be in charge of anything,rather people willing to spend some of their time with the kids is what is most needed in all areas.
So what games can kids play while Sailing?
Can some sort of on water boat switching be done if the boats are not all the same?(sounds fun) so that the kids can experience say anything from a F12 to Wave to a Nacra x.x. etc.. Again, not critical to this discussion.

Looking for simple boat building ideas.
Sailing game ideas
Sailing program ideas.

I have been involved with running a fair number of sailing events from our local fleet races up to Nationals and an Alter cup. This includes Boy Scout sailing days and Youth Nationals.

I have also managed people professionally.
What I have always told them was an idea is just an idea.
Whether it's good or bad will only be decided in time.

My other rule for running events was that if you are having a great time and think everything is going well please let a sponsor or volunteer know that.
If you have a complaint, bring it to me only, and I will address it with you. If you bad mouth a volunteer I will discuss it with you at some point anyway.
For the purposes of this discussion that means not shooting down ideas just becuse they are not in line with what you currently believe.

I think my mother first told me that as we go through school we learn many things and around the age of 20 we think we know everything. Every year after that we relize what we don't know. Around 40 you relize you don't know Sh!t
Then you can start to gain wisdom.

Since I'm just past not knowing Sh!t, lets put together some ideas and maybe we all can learn something or gain a little wisdom.

If you don't want to post for fear of persicusion, send me a PM and I will post for you without your ID.

Fire Away I'm ready

Damn Pat! You've got too much time on your hands. Get a job.

Matt, sent you a PM. Back to work Tuesday.
Bumming I didn't get in the bus to Tradewinds.

Solution <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> waterproof playstations <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I have canvassed some consultants.
They are 11 year old girls. My daughter has sailed at sail camps on opti's, sunfish and lasers.
She has been with me on a H16 a lot and we have a H14.
She has also sailed on a wave.
I asked what her favorite boat was and she said the Wave.
I asked what is fun to do while sailing?
She said: They played dodge ball at sail camp on the boats. They had games where they sailed up to a marks and had to tie knots.
They flipped boats and did righting drills, also man overboard rescues.
I asked if she would want to sail by herself or with someone.
She said she would rather have another kid on the boat with her. (that social thing again)
I asked about a smaller boat like a 12 footer.
She said it would be fun to sail by herself if it didn't flip.
If she had someone with her that flipping would then be fun as long as they could right it easy.

If you have kids in the age range, maybe you could ask them similiar questions and let us know.

Pat,
Your cheating.

Asking an expert is as bad as buying something and then reading the instructions.

BTW: out of interest- how much does your daughter amd her friends weigh.

Regards,
Phill

They are in the 80-100lb range.
Sarah is on the small end at 80.(36kg),but very athletic.

Pat,
Thanks.
I would have guessed around 40kg.
So not too far off.

We used to put two on 12 ft cats until they became very confident and then they could sail by themselves if they wanted.
Same experience this end.
They always had a great time playing dodge ball and they got to learn boat handling skills trying to manouvre their boats in the game.
I think I enjoyed watching them as much as they enjoyed the game.

Pat, I hope to see this discussion continue. I have a contribution to make, but we're eyeball deep in Tradewinds. I processed the registration for 35 boats tonight and I think we're going to see another 25-30 register in the a.m.

Chip and I are running a 10 Hobie Wave sailing program at Founders Park. Last summer was the first summer youth sailing program. We run 2-3 kids per boat, depending on age, size, and experience, and they are loving it.

The biggest thing is the empowerment the kids have to command their own boats and just be kids, especially in the age bracket you wish to discuss. Kids these days have a zillion structured and over-organized activities. The freedom they enjoy while sailing is huge.

I'll jump back into this discussion after the regatta is over.

Pat, in our program at Sail Sand Point in Seattle, www.sailsandpoint.org, we have five Hobie Waves. The Waves are used in "Cruising Camp" This is a five day, 9:00 AM to 4:00PM. The age in this class is 10 to 18. After the mandatory first day drill, where all the students are required to turn over, then right the boat it is a fun program. This is a US SAILING Program, with level 1 Instructors, so it also includes swimming with and without PFD's and other safety training. The number of students on each Wave varies, but can be from one to four. The social aspect dictates, and they are encouraged to rotate crews. This not a strict learn to sail program. They do learn how to sail the Waves, and all take turns at the tiller, but the emphasis is on having fun. Each day, they sail to a different beach, and have lunch at that location. The safety boat carries the lunches, and drinks they bring. On one day, they go to Kirkland, or Ivar's in the U of W district and buy lunch. They bring $8.00 on this day to cover the cost. Depending on the wind, they sail as much as possible, but often are towed back, or to the beach. All five Waves are equipped with righting/tow lines, and can easily be towed with the safety boat. We have 13ft Whalers, and similar RIB's for safety boats. Each day is a different adventure with the distance from SSP between 2 and 8 miles, all on Lake Washington. This is a low key fun program. My grandson Dan, now 11, has done this program for three years. He has also raced the Wave in our local Hobie Cat Regattas the past two years.

The Wave is also our most popular boat in the "Open Sailing" program. This is when the boats are available on weekends, and evenings when the boats are not in use in classes.

Last year we had our first Hobie 16 Class. We now have five Hobie 16's that will be used in our classes, and Open Sailing. The student must be checked out on any boat before they can sail it in Open sailing. We also have Opt's, Lasers, 420's and FJ's in the Program.

Two of our instructors, Chris Fuller and Callie Wade, are now in training to race in the US SAILING Youth Multihull Champ. in CA this spring. Local Hobie Sailors are training this team on both Hobie 16's and a Tiger to get them ready.

All information on this and other programs is on the webpage, along with lots of pictures. We encourage all young sailors to first learn to sail on the Opti. Their ability to sail the Wave is much improved by going through the Opti first.

Caleb Tarleton

Caleb,
In your program, at what age are kids allowed to learn on the Optis?
Never mind, I found it on the web site. Sounds like they can start at age 6. That's amazing and wonderful. Most programs don't have any option before 8 years old.

Bless you Pat! Matt, don't you try to discourage him! I can't wait to hear Barb's contribution! I also can't believe she even posted here considering how busy she is with Tradewinds! Caleb, You guys are the gold standard! Anyone else that's interested, show these folks some respect. They have been remarkably successful already! I'm just a cheerleader here <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Couple of more notes. In case you did not see this on the website under "Open Sailing" Cost PER YEAR for sailors up to 16 for the Opti is $1.00. For sailors 17 and under, sailing all boats in Open sailing, cost is $25.00 per year. This eliminates the cost factor. This also covers their use of the boats in the Monday Night Races that are held weekly.

Caleb

So who covers the costs of the programs and of the facility, and the boats, and all that?

Mary, the class fee's cover most of the cost. The boat storage provides about one third of the income. As to the boats, all five Waves, and six Hobie 16's were donated, or purchased with donated money. Some of our seven safety boats were donated. The rest of the Opti's, Laser's, 420's, Hunter 140's and FJ's were capital expenditure, and some donations.

As I have mentioned before, the real success of this or any program is the people. This includes all parents, students, Board Members, and everyone that volunteers, youth thru seniors. All under direction of our Executive Director, the only full time employee.

Caleb

Okay, but how do you get so many people to take the classes? Is it because you have a water location adjacent to a major city? Lots of people. And how do you let those people know about the sailing program and attract them to it? And how do you get people to donate boats?

The Sailing Center has to pay the instructors, which can't be a lot of money, so they are probably kids themselves. But somebody has to pay their expenses to take the US Sailing certification programs. And instructors have to keep turning over regularly as they go to college or get out of college and get "real" jobs.

I think all of us would like to know how to create a program as successful as the one you people enjoy in Seattle.

Guys/Mary:

Just get them on the boats. My grand daughter Ashleigh has been sailing and racing with me since she was 7, she is 13 now and even races on big boats with me. She is the official spinnaker snuffer below deck. We can't keep her off the boat. If it is in them, one ride should do it. If not NOTHING will make them go.

Doug Snell
Hobie 17
"Stress Free" #007

Heres a curly one for ya. When our lake recovers from the drought, and we are able to sail again (might be next year, might not). How should we go about getting both kids and adults alike back into again, its been quite a few years since we've been able to sail.

I sometimes think it will never get back up again (the club) and those many kids we had back then, will have moved on to other sports and activities.

Its hard to keep the ball rolling so to speak, as time goes by. We have probably five or six club boats, 125's, flying ants and a cherub, which is quite good for such a small area. But we are going to basically have to start from scratch if and when we do get going again.

Regards

How about a celebration barbi when the lakes filled enough and the fires are out to get every one down there <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
regards

Mary, some answers for you: These programs take a lot of time and effort. Our Founders, Jonathan and Marcy Edwards started a Learn to Sail program in 1993 at Corinthian Yacht Club at Leschi on Lake Washington. In 1998 they formed a 501(c)3 not for profit Corp named Sail Sand Point, and donated all their Opti's and safety boats, floats, etc to this new Corp. In 1999 an agreement was signed with the City of Seattle to have a trial concession agreement at the North Shore of Magnuson Park, which was the Sand Point Naval Air Station. For more info see the website www.sailsandpoint.org. Under "About Us" check Vision and history. Under "Community" check Sponsors & Friends, and Hobie Wave Donations, typical of donated boats. Check "Voluteers and Outreach" for more details. Part of the outreach is the "Fast and Fun" free sailing programs. see http://www.ussailing.org/multihull/fast&fun.htm US SAILING no longer has this program, but we continue this program with our five Waves.

Our instructors come up from the ranks of first taking classes, become volunteer instructors, take Level 1 US SAILING Training, then administrative roles at SSP and finally become Board Members. Most have paid for their own Level 1 classes, but we now are getting sponsors, such as the Northwest Yacht Brokers to offer scholarships to cover this cost.

On the Catamaran Programs and donations, support is from our local Hobie Cat dealer, Hobie Cats Northwest, and the local Hobie Cat sailors and fleet members. All new Waves were pasted thru at cost by Hobie Cats Northwest. They have also just moved into our Building 11 at Sail Sand Point from their prior location in Kirkland. We will be in their booth at the Seattle Boat Show, Jan.25 to Feb.4. All six of our used Hobie 16's have been donated, then fixed up by our Hobie sailors.

Again, it is the people that make it happen.

Caleb Tarleton