Your daughter, Molly is a prime example of the evolution of a life long sailor. I've followed her sailing career via you and met Molly, very young. She was already a sailor!
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.....!
My son wasn't involved in that one. I'm surrogate father to quite a few of these kids, they've spent countless hours with us at home and on the water.
Some of these kids that now sail, didn't grow up with sailing parents. Plus quite a few didn't grow up with parents that painted,...anything(much less, a boat)!
I applauded those kids that painted their topsides with bottom paint(I've known them since they were toddlers). What else could you do after it was done?
What the hell, I'd rather see fearless kids do things (even if they're wrong,...) than be too afraid to try. Besides, I still remember what I was like at that age.