Kids Sailing Boats

[Bob7291]

Summer of '63

We were in southern Germany on an R&R break from my dad's Navy duty in Iceland. I paid 25 cents to check out a beat-up 14' wooden catboat at Lake Eibsee. It took me about an hour to figure out that distance sailed to leeward must be made up sooner or later, and that a shallow keeled cat-rigged boat was not the ideal vessel for doing it. The problem solving that ensued was what hooked me, and some years later I built a wooden planing-hull 16' daggerboard sloop. She earned her name ("Flipper" - painted upside down on the transom) the first day out. Just started semi-serious racing last year at age 58, and Mike is right, it is wonderful not to be able to sleep the night before a race in the excited anticipation of something that is so much fun. Blows the cholestrol out, too.

 

[cellardweller1]

Quit Smoking or Don't expect to Hold the Baby!!!!!

I was a smoker and a soon-to-be father. My wife threatened me, "Quit smoking or don't expect to hold the baby!" Well, as an incentive, she said I should keep track of the cost of my habit and if I quit I could buy an adult toy with the money I would save by quitting. So with 2 reasons to quit, some months later I bought a used 1981 Sunfish. I taught myself how to sail it on Lake Harriet, in the heart of Minneapolis. Then on to my charter certificate on Lake Superior and finally my own 22' trailerable sloop.

 

[jibeho30]

Late Bloomer

This old salt first learned the thrill of sailing at age thirty-six. I doubt seriously that my sailing life could have been more fulfilled had I started sailing as a kid. Introduction to sailing came when I learned that a colleague was a knowledgeable sailor. After some serious discussion, I had built a 16-foot cuddy sloop within the year.As the years rolled by, and after the kids left the nest, and I retired, my wife and I realized we had 21 years of sailing under our belts. Moreover, we had acquired our third boat, a Hunter 30 sloop. Now, with 35 years of sailing, including 2 ½ years of live-aboard cruising behind us, I don’t feel I missed anything, not sailing as a child.Of course, at age 71, childhood is but a feint memory, but I still sail twice weekly.

 

[Butch23081]

Learned by 'doing'

I got a used canoe in my late teens. I canoed in the lakes and rivers of Minnesota. One day, on a long stretch of water, we had the wind to our back so I decided to rig a 'sail' with limbs from some trees for a mast and 'boom' cross bar at the top of the mast to hang an army poncho to use as a sail...Like a little viking ship. Worked great. Then I constructed a more 'sophisticated' sail rig for the canoe...lateen, with leeboards on each side of the canoe. Sailed that in Minn. until I moved to the central Calif. coast. I wasn't permitted to canoe in the regions resevoirs, because "canoes were unsafe". So I sailed in the Pacific Ocean just west of Santa Barbara and in Morro Bay west of San Luis Obispo. Ignorance is bliss...when young.

 

[Jim Smith]

I started at 45

with ASA 101, 103, 104 and 105 with my wife. That was last year, this year we dove in and took delivery of our Hunter in February.Like Mike, I too am happy to have something new to learn, but knowing what I know now I sure do wish I had those years back that I spent on powerboats Regards to all! -Jim-s/v Forever

 

[Dick Elliott]

beginning Sailing

I started in 1962 at age 25 by building a British 16ft. wooden Wayfarer from a kit. All my friends said that this would be a passing fad. A few years later came a seventh in the national championships and, later yet a class championship in a Ranger 20. Many, many years later finds me still sailing with a very devoted wife and crew, currently cruising an Ericson 34.

 

[scoobain]

A Baby...

My first memories are of ice boating on Lake St. Clair on the east side of Michigan with my father, I think I was about 8 years old maybe younger. The wind was so very cold and all I could see was just the top of the cabin. It was a small boat and there was barely room for me to sit between my Fathers legs. I've never experianced anything quite like that since but would love to try it. After that, we sailed in the small inlets of Connecticut where we found the skeletons of Horsehoe Crab and got stuck in the reeds. Later on when we moved to Oregon I really learned how to sail on a Lightning Class boat. Now that was a kick in the pants! Never a top notch sailor but I could start with the big boys. Now at 45 we own a Union (Perry design) 36' and are re-furbishing. We might even live on it for a bit...who knows.

 

[Jim Gorman]

When did I begin sailing ?

My grandfather encouraged me to try sailing when I was but 5 years old - the boat was a "Dwarf", a mahogany planked hull about 10 feet long, flying both main and jib. My first 'solo' was at age 6 and I was only permitted to use the main - since then, I have owned a 22' Columbia, a 26' Bristol, and now (a gift from my bride of too many years) a Hunter 34. Sailing is part of my life and, so far, there is no expiration date !!

 

[CaptRon6191]

Learned in the Navy

I learned to sail as a Plebe at the Naval Academy during Plebe summer. It was a real break from the other stuff we were doing. Sailed other people's boats off and on for 40 years until I bought my first sailboat a couple of years ago, a Beneteau Oceanis 350. Been sailing more often now!

 

[CaptRon6191]

Come on Grandma

Come on Grandma, 6 is quite old enough. My grandson, 4, has already had the helm of my Oceanis 350, under proper supervision, of course. I learned as Plebe at USNA in the summer of 1965! Both of my grandson are learning now.

 

[chrysalis7703]

got lucky

A college sophomore, I was lucky enough to get the job of my life - Lifeguard at a state owned beach on a local fresh water lake. As a bonus, the beach also sported a sailing club. Since the sailors all needed to pass a state approved swimming test before being allowed on the boats, we lifeguards had a deal whereby we administered the test, and the club manager agreed to teach us to sail. I took advantage and got hooked on sailing!

 

[Capt. Moose]

Ancient Mariner

I feel like the ancient Mariner. We only had a small 18 ft. knockabout, back in the 1930's it was after the depresion, sailed often with my Dad and when about 8 or 9 years ols, he would let me and several neighbor children sail across the Bay to a public park. Taught us how to tie up or anchor. When 12 yrs old went from grade school to high school and as a present he lft me and a friend take the little boat on a trip. Went thru C & D Canal a total of 100 miles. Been sailing over 65 yrs. very fortunate as we live on the water and the boat is always there. I believe I've had about 20 boats over all these years.

 

[Pops]

I also learned on Lake Harriet

in the heart of Minneapolis, Minnesota. I learned on and raced X scows through a program set up by the Parks service, I was 14. My parents bought my brother and I several sailboats as we grew up. The maintenance (they were always fixer uppers) and the sailing kept us busy and out of trouble for years. My brother and I (both in our 50's) still own boats and it probably still keeps us both out of trouble.

 

[Bad Obsession]

Started on a sunfish

Got a sunfish from one of my uncles at age 12. I have a lot of fun with that boat and learnt a lot about sailing. I began racing at the age of 14 and I was sailing on a very successful boat. I started as a trimmer, moved to a spinnaker trimmer, and then went to bowman. I did most of the transports to the races because I had time to help the boatowners. The knowledge I picked up from this, and my two uncles who cruise sailboats, has helped me now because I am beginning to cruise my boat.I consider myself very lucky because I got to start so early. My wife has never been around sailing and she can't believe how much I know. Because I was so young when I learned to sail, it is like second nature. I couldn't imagine where I would be without sailing!

 

[steve hunter]

Ancient Mariner

At age 55 in a sailing club. No I don't wish I had sailed earlier on. I never had the desire before. Radical changes in my life style, employment, health and friends led me to sailing. I am a firm believer that you follow a path you need to go down at the appropriate time. I think that local boating communities in local marinas can be instrumental in introducing kids to sailing especially where there are a fair number of live aboards. Weekend sailors are usually focused on their personal fun time and frequently don't have the desire or time to spend it with an introductory program for kids. I think that it would be a great way for the live aboard community to enhance its image in a local community where it can get "bashed" frequently.

 

[glenn west]

old age

57 years young-- a cople of friends --Mr. Mike Kilpatrick, Jerry Sisemore (yea the football player), and Dr. Roy Bell--gave me the bug--still 57 and totally hooked. 3 years ago I would not have given you a plug nickel for a sailboat--fact is had never been on one--to slow--guess getting older does somethings that are good. its a blast.

 

[Mariner]

Sailing at 12

I began sailing at age 12. It was a 12ft O'Day that we beached in front of our family cottage on Lake Erie. It was a proud morning when my instructor (Dad) "checked me out" and gave me the ok to take the boat out by myself.It was a long day. A quick sale was what I promised Mom. Close hauled and driving to shore to make good on my promise, and further from shore than either parent would enjoy, the clew of the main let go and a furious sale slapped itself in the wind.I won't bore you with the humorous details that followed, and led to the capsize, the rudder sinking to the bottom (i think it was the third dad had bought for this boat), the storm, the six foot swells, the Ashtabula Coast Guard pulling me out of the water or successfully beaching the O'Day only to have the mother of all storms reach her on the beach and claim her once again, with the mast through the hull.It was the first and last time I sailed "The Blue Boat". This fling with nature was so exciting and fearful, challenging and rewarding.Thanks Dad, not only was it a good sailing lesson, but a good life lesson.

 

[Alan Johnson8370]

Sears Jetwind

When I was 14 back in 1969, I went with my mother to Sears to buy paint so I could paint the gutters. There was a Jetwind set up inside the store, and my mother bought it on the spur of the moment -- something she never did. My brother and I learned the old fashion way and had a blast sailing all over newly impounded Percy Priest lake in Nashville. Years later I met a gentleman who was getting up in years and needed a crew. He favored pretty young girls, but I was in luck because my girlfriend (now wife) fit the bill. He had a 23 foot cruiser (North America?) and we spent many wonderful afternoons on that boat. Two children and a career later, I took the family on a short cruise in St. Augustine on a 75 footer. I looked at my wife and asked why we weren't sailing. We came back home and two months later bought an Oday 25.Now my 14 year old son is learning and I am reliving my youth watching him. He is going to a sailing camp next week sponsored by the Percy Priest and Harbor Isalnd Yacht clubs. As much as I enjoy my Oday 25, there is nothing to compare to the days when I would take off down lake, feet in the stirrups, hiking out with all I had and telling myself, "Don't let it turtle!"

 

[Cool Breeze]

A "cool" way to kearn

When I was six a man down the beach from our summer cottage took on a Alcort dealership. Within a year there were 22 boats within a few miles. Each Saturday the kids would race, and every Sunday would be the dads and father-son, mother-daughter, who ever and whomever races most of the day followed by cook-outs and awards. Oh I forgot the best part, this was on Lake Superior where the high surface tmeperature in the water gets to about the 60 degree range. You learned quick not to go over but every Sunfish will when pushed past the limits. We also learned to sail in brisk winds with choppy seas boucing from wave to wave. Up through college I sailed as crew for whoever would have me. Pearsons in the 40 foot range and a couple of Palmer Johnson Standfasts were the frequent homes on the water. I left sailing for a number of years but stayed on the water with power boats. I stumbled back into sailing when my son noticed an add on the local harware store bulletin board. I wanted him to have some of the joys of the wind as well. Now 5 years later we're of on a father son 10 cruise. I can't wait.

 

[Tim Welsh]

22 and Cowboy Boots

I was 22 and had a pair of snakeskin cowboy boots on the first day I went to sail. Guess what? I ended up running around barefoot the rest of the day. The boots are long gone but the sailing is more prevelent than ever. Went from 16 hobie to 272 buccaneer to a hunter 24 by the age of 34. I am 36 now and figure by the time I'm 40 I'll have a 40' plus boat. Who knows what will happen by the time I'm 60. Tim Welsh H34 AKA Cabo Wabo