To sail on a dream on crystal clear ocean….’. John Denver, Calyso. It starts with dinghies.
Families can have have a great time together dinghy sailing, whether racing or just having fun.
First everyone must know how to sail a dinghy and stay safe, see Dinghy Equipment.
Royal Yachting Association courses for children
Easy as 1, 2, 3 ….
There are many books, try “GO SAILNG, For Young People” or Fernhurst’ Sailing Start to finish.
Optimists
Most children start in small dinghies aptly named, Optimists. Here is a video on sailing Optimists. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXl7gORV7CE
From optimists you can move up to Toppers, Lasers or RS Fevas and on up to foiling on ‘Moths’.
Some families graduate from sailing in dinghies to yachts which widen horizons. See Yachts., How to Sail.
However, before we are swept away on sailing dreams, for now, let’s focus on the nitty gritty, learning how to sail – set the sails, push the rudder to the right, to make it go left, and so much more.
Go on RYA dinghy courses.
Join a Club. We made good, long term friends with families we met through sailing dinghies.
As well as meeting dinghy sailing folk you’ll learn about sailing dinghies, and what kind of dinghy you want. Find out what your kind of dinghy sailing is about. Maybe the children want to race. Maybe you want go out for weekend or evening sails.
Buy a dinghy. Sail more.
We have sailed all kinds of dinghies. Below is a link to an overview of four.
Dinghies: Heron. Wayfarer. Sea Hopper. Fusion .
You will read in Organising a group camping trip that this website started on a dinghy sailing-camping gathering.