Is the Cadet finished?

Originally posted by getafix

   Nessa, you are so very right.

I see many parents chucking their kids at sailing courses without the children really being interested and as a result they don't try and hence don't stick at it.

I've taught my daughter how to crew for me over the last couple of years and SHE is the one who has asked me if she can do an Oppie course next year. I wouldn't dream of forcing a sailing course on my son either instead I will try and get him sailing with me prior to any course. 

Both my kids go to swimming lessons, but not before they went and spent some time at the swimming pool with me and the wife first to get them vaguely used to it.

I suppose it follows all the way through our lives, as we made a concerted effort to help our children read and to love reading, before they even went to school. 

I find it amazing that some people expect others to do absolutely everything for their children  when surely the whole purpose of having children is to want to develop and nurture a human being to be the best they can be?

As for boats, my daughter was in tears tonight because I wouldn't let her crew in our midweek series tonight in our Graduate. She is constantly nagging me about letting her join Frampton on Sever SC so that she can do Optimist training. I love her enthusiasm, and much as I hate the idea of being an Oppie dad, I expect I'll have to buy her one in the new year!!!! 

I would however like her to be able to get a boat that works at TSC so that she can start a fleet with her mates at our home club.

On chasing stages, a chap who works for me is a Judo instructor and senior referee, and is becoming increasingly frustrated with angry parents demanding that because their little angel has been brown belt for a whole term that she must now deserve the next colour belt. He has been sworn at and threatened after telling them that he will award Angel the next belt once she has exhibited the necessary skills as laid down in the Judo rules to get that belt. Its sad isn't it?

As for the Cadet, I once took part in an event in Spain with my cousin in one, as a 13yr old. I found it a strange boat but the competition was great and given that the other 80 boats were all the same I didn't much care that the boat looked like a coffin. 

And finally, for me the thing that in recent years has really hurt some of these older classes, is the desire to try and nail down tolerances and effectively make the boats absolutely identical. Gone are the days of buying an Oppie kit or plans, now you have to have one of the half dozen approved supplier boats, which of course are not cheap. 