Yachting with Youngsters: A Guide to Waterborne Fun

Running the sailing dock at an overnight camp as a young adult, I gained valuable experience and many wonderful memories of teaching kids to sail in small crafts.

Here are a few simple guidelines that will help you to enjoy your wind-guided cruise with your young crew. The bottom lines are caution and courtesy, no matter what may come about.

Keep it safe.

Start with water safety. Before a child can learn to sail, he should know how to swim. Basic swimming strokes should be mastered. We always required youngsters to swim at least 100 yards without a buoyant floatation device before we allowed them to enter the basic sailing program.

Every young person who boards a sailboat must wear a life preserver. (Different states and localities have their own rules here, but children should never be allowed aboard without an approved life-jacket.) Very young children, such as babes in arms, should probably not participate in a sail, particularly on smaller vessels. If tiny tots do come aboard, they should be safely secured in life-jackets, fastened completely and ship-shape, and they must be closely supervised.Of course, sun protection is a must, particularly for participants with sensitive skin.

For adults who can swim capably, sufficient life preservers must be on board the boat. It may sound stern, but that's the law.

Make it fun.

Children love to go fast, to splash, and to participate in the steering. Even if they are not old enough to hold the sheet, manage the jib, or shoot the spinnaker, they can certainly pilot the boat in a safe open space with the tiller or helm. A skilled skipper can assist them, of course.

When we were kids, we loved to sail a Sunfish. We'd tack, back and forth, to the middle of the lake and capsize the boat repeatedly, just to right it again. What fun!

Start with the basics.

The simpler the sailboat, the more actual hands-on sailing a child will be able to master. Start on a fairly calm day in an uncrowded cove. A Sailfish, Sunfish, or dinghy is ideal for first-timers.

Instruct young crew members about rudimentary sailing. Teach them how to tell which way the wind is blowing.

What are "coming about" and "jibing"? Why is turning away from the wind and into the wind different, anyway?

Explain the difference between port (left) and starboard (right).

Demonstrate how to duck and get out of the boom's way, as it swings overhead.

Show children how to tack (zigzag) from Point A to Point B, using wind currents, instead of trying to manage a straight line against the breeze.

Teach sailing and boating etiquette.

A few basic guidelines make sailing safe and fun for everyone.

First, while at sea, the skipper is boss, no questions asked.

Of course, no one should ever stand up in a boat.

Regardless of rough waters or other events, everyone must remain calm while at sea, even if the boat tips or swerves.

Jumping overboard at any time is against the rules, unless the skipper instructs everyone to "Abandon ship."

Right-of-way rules apply for safety and etiquette and must be followed. Anything less is just plain tacky.

Enjoy the adventure!

If you follow and teach these basic steps, then you and your youngsters will very likely find that sailing is a breeze! Set your course for fun, catch the wind, and you're off!