10 reasons why kids should sail

1. Independence

Nothing beats the thrill of self-driving a sailboat at the age of nine. Cycling is one thing. Skillful yacht handling and self-mooring are completely different. Any physical activity helps a child to develop, but sailing undoubtedly provides a child with the most varied training. I celebrated this for ten years while I worked as a children's trainer. But I'm not the only one, my students have confirmed this over and over again.

2. Spatial thinking

When children learn how to steer a yacht in tight, winding aisles, when they learn to avoid collisions, skillfully approach the bank or squeeze to the start line in competition, they develop spatial thinking, which in turn will give them the necessary confidence in any activity where coordination is necessary. For example in driving.

10 reasons why kids should sail

3. Sense of direction

When I was 10, I trained all week as part of a group, and then went out on the water on my own on weekends. I took food with me and on my Optimist went out for a couple of hours to explore the surroundings. I am sure that it was these independent exits that gave me good orienteering skills. Memorizing the direction I came from, landmarks on the ground, and understanding how to get back - all this rapidly formed my self-consciousness. This experience helps a lot to navigate in space.

4. Understanding weather conditions

Do you know where a thunderstorm front usually comes from? You know what the water temperature is in May near Long Island Sound. If your child is sailing, he or she knows for sure. Knowledge of weather conditions comes naturally both on the water and on the shore.

5. The habit of order

Sailing school students learn to independently arm and disarm a sailboat. Children learn to put the weapons in place and correctly set up the sail of the sailing dinghy when going out on the water. A dad or mom will not be able to give their child these skills. Longshore Sailing School even instituted a prize for the correct maintenance of the yacht and sailing equipment, for each group of students to develop this important skill. So if your kids are not on the water yet, give them a try.

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5 reasons why kids should sail

Five additional reasons why kids should sail

Five years ago in the final issue of the Water Views blog, I wrote a post titled 5 Reasons Your Kids Should Sail. This post was then widely distributed around the world and by various yacht clubs and regional and national publications.

Indeed, the topic is very important. But I only touched the visible part of the tip of the iceberg. On my trips, I have collected a few more additional reasons. Below are five qualities that a true young yachtsman acquires that are just as important as the previous five.

1. Endurance

Ever competed in the Optimists Race on Long Island Sound in April? All the children who race in them are really strong and hardened. The weather can be very changeable, but the children did not come for their hot chocolate and hamburger for lunch, they came to compete, they do not complain about difficulties. After the races are over, they will put their boats away before changing and getting warm.

2. Responsibility

Self-steering of a yacht develops in the child a sense of responsibility for all his actions, it is unlikely that he or she will be able to understand what responsibility is before obtaining a driver's license. Children who sail for pleasure or young riders must constantly monitor the situation and must be independently responsible for all their possible mistakes.

10 reasons why kids should sail

3. Ability to anticipate the result

The fine tuning and adjustment of the sail and other components of a sailing yacht has a definite effect on the results of the races, an important quality that develops as a result of sailing. The ability to control many different parameters then has a positive effect on performance in school, in business and in life.

4. Courage

Young sailors push the threshold of fear. Most children are afraid of capsizing on a sailing dinghy, especially until this happens to them. Many are afraid of strong winds. They roll over anyway and still go out to train in stormy weather. It’s the coach’s job to control the situation, but in the end, the children are able to overcome the fear.

10 reasons why kids should sail

5. Patience

Spending a whole day waiting for the wind to fill the sails requires incredible patience and endurance. I talked with my parents, who were tormented all day in anticipation of the end of the races and tormented themselves with thoughts of what else could be done today, but the young sailors are well prepared. Waiting for the weather to improve is part of sailing. As an example, I would like to cite one of the Optimists regattas when in two racing days there were only 90 minutes suitable for racing. All the children endured it. Can a team of twelve-year-old footballers show such patience?