I can't remember whether I was 8 or 9 years old, but I really learned how to sail when I was sent out by myself on our pram-nosed dinghy and told, "Just don't run into any of the boats in the harbor."
That'll teach you fast which way to push the tiller! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
That same dinghy taught me how to row and how to run a small outboard motor.