Photoday, Fearless Youth!

TomY

Alden Forum Moderator
Jun 22, 2004
2,758
Alden 38' Challenger yawl Rockport Harbor
My son and his best friend (in the background), sail their boats into the docks in our harbor, this past spring.

I help them both with their boats, but they don't ask for much help(they should!!). There are a bunch of kids that sail out of here on a handful of near worthless boats! :) Edit: Actually, these are valueless boats - not worthless. No monetary value but they are assets for the future of sailing.
Namo Aloha.jpg


They have so little $ that everything is shoe string. A few years ago, a bunch of them painted the topsides of the boat in the background. I was aghast when I saw they had used bottom paint,...:yikes:
 
Last edited:
Oct 22, 2014
20,995
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
We have 1800 boats in Everett, but only a few kids can be seen. Usually with their parents or testing the parents kayak/dingy in the marina.
 
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TomY

Alden Forum Moderator
Jun 22, 2004
2,758
Alden 38' Challenger yawl Rockport Harbor
We have 1800 boats in Everett, but only a few kids can be seen. Usually with their parents or testing the parents kayak/dingy in the marina.
Is it possible (affordable, available) for kids to get moorings in your area? The supply of free small-ish sailboats is growing here. I see that trend continuing.
 
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Oct 22, 2014
20,995
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Not yet. Most boats are in the 25 plus category. They are doing a Port makeover. There is not a kid friendly sailing basin, yet. Maybe someday.
 
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DArcy

.
Feb 11, 2017
1,691
Islander Freeport 36 Ottawa
Tom, I like your comment "they are assets for the future of sailing".

There are some young adults with keel boats. A few 20ish guys got together and bought a Shark and put some sweat equity into it last summer. Most sail on other peoples boats.

I see a lot of kids out sailing, mostly dinghies, probably because my kids are involved in dinghy sailing.


Sometimes they even let me come along ;)
 
Feb 6, 1998
11,667
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
Our daughter (white visor) started sailing, on her own, at age six, (I was in my work skiff near her and coaching) and was in the a junior program at seven.



She really loves it..
 
Oct 19, 2017
7,733
O'Day 19 Littleton, NH
My family have sailed since my father sailed his opti around Clearwater Bay in the early 50s. I had an Optimus built by Clark Mills that I also sailed all over Clearwater Bay as a kid. Took lessons at the Clearwater Yacht Club in their club optis. That little boat is responsible for a lout of people getting hooked on sailing. They just inducted Clark Mills, the designer, into the Sailing Hall of Fame.
- Will (Dragonfly)
 
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TomY

Alden Forum Moderator
Jun 22, 2004
2,758
Alden 38' Challenger yawl Rockport Harbor
Tom, I like your comment "they are assets for the future of sailing".

There are some young adults with keel boats. A few 20ish guys got together and bought a Shark and put some sweat equity into it last summer. Most sail on other peoples boats.

I see a lot of kids out sailing, mostly dinghies, probably because my kids are involved in dinghy sailing.

Sometimes they even let me come along ;)
Great photo, DArcy. Most (if not all) of the kids that are now in their 20's sailing around here, went through a few or several seasons of sailing instruction at the local boat club and yacht clubs (even our kids that grew up sailing with their family took the classes). The new dynamic around here, is the growing supply of old boats that can't be sold(many are being turned away as donations at the local Y).

From what I see, starting kids sailing as soon as they are able creates the next generation of lifelong sailors.

We used to send our kids out in the sailing dinghy after we anchored. I wish I had a dollar for every time I rigged and de-rigged that little boat. Our daughter (8-9 yrs old) at the helm taking a friend sailing.
Nutshell MJ Abby2.jpg

It was worth the effort.
MJ Cuttyhunk.jpg
 

SFS

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Aug 18, 2015
2,066
Currently Boatless Okinawa
My family have sailed since my father sailed his opti around Clearwater Bay in the early 50s. I had an Optimus built by Clark Mills that I also sailed all over Clearwater Bay as a kid. Took lessons at the Clearwater Yacht Club in their club optis. That little boat is responsible for a lout of people getting hooked on sailing. They just inducted Clark Mills, the designer, into the Sailing Hall of Fame.
- Will (Dragonfly)
@Will Gilmore - Just sent you a Private Message
 
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Feb 14, 2017
29
Mainecat 38 Anacortes
I was in high school when I was allowed to take our boat out on camping trips in Casco Bay. That feeling of freedom and independence (and parental trust) was pretty cool. I'm sure that and just plain growing up with boats was critical to my being a life long sailor---both professionally and recreationally!
 
Oct 19, 2017
7,733
O'Day 19 Littleton, NH
Unfortunately, in the 80s, my family moved from living aboard in Clearwater Florida to the mountains of New Hampshire. My kids, now adults and moved out, did not grow up shilling. My son, now living in DC., has expressed an interest in learning to sail. I hope I get my newly acquired mariner 19 back together so I can be the one to teach him.
- Will (Dragonfly)
 

nat55

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Feb 11, 2017
210
Gulfstar 1979 Gulfstar 37 BELFAST
Tom, I've been following Young, Tom's sailing exploits via your posts, but really bottom paint on the topsides? I can get him some decent enamel if he needs it for less than the bottom paint costs.....!
It's great to see all the posts from folks with kids getting into sailing, much like skiing and other individual sports sailing is a lifetime sport as well as a lifestyle sport.
For those that don't know me, my daughter Molly now 25 has sailed literally all over the country and the world, her experience at Maine Maritime contributed a lot to her sailing proficiency.
This is the MMA team after winning the Storm Trysail regatta back in 2013
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This is her at the college world championships in France her freshman year. The USA team did okay and the experience will stick with them all for a long time.
She and Jake, her fiance' used our boats often when she was in school, and as a result have taught me a lot about sailing.
10012450_10155833298850300_5462578522857086472_n.jpg

Now they live aboard their own boat in Seattle, a 50' ex IOR race boat that is quite a project.....
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Keep those kids sailing, plenty of adventures ahead of them!
 

pateco

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Aug 12, 2014
2,207
Hunter 31 (1983) Pompano Beach FL
I was lucky and started early. Below is a pic of my brother and I sailing the Optimist type pram we bartered yard work for on our local lake. I think this is 1973 ish
FB_IMG_1478533802228.jpg


Our Local Club Hillsboro Inlet Sailing Club has a youth program they run with donated boats on a local public lake.
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a-4346.jpg a-4305.jpg a-4234.jpg

The kids really love it.