Are single handers good for getting novices going

No doubt my big learning steps came from crewing with good guys.  Even if it wasn't a particular fact I picked up, it was their attitude/approach to the subject.

We run almost all Adult Level 1 courses in double handers because most, though certainly not all, adults are hesitant learners and need to have someone in the boat with them as they learn to tack and gybe.  Level 2, however, is run in single handers as I feel it's really importnat that they get as much 'tiller time' as possible.  Level 2 is a pretty short course yet after it the studetns are theoretically able to go off and hire a dinghy.  I like to see them capable of sailing on their own before they get their ticket.

At the end of our courses we actively discourage studetns from going out to buy a boat.  Instead we encourage them to carry on sailing using club boats or borrowing from other members until they are absolutely sure that a) they enjoy sailing and b) they know what they want.

In terms of keeping them sailing I think clubs need to provide more informal tuition.  We run 'turn up and train' sessions where members can come along (no booking required) and go afloat under the watchful eye of an instructor with a course laid for themt o follow if they choose.  There is help with rigging from assistant instructors and ample opportunity to ask questions one to one.

We are just about to start our autumn allcomers race training which is typically made up of all the people who have done level 2/stage 3 over the year and already take up is good.  Those people then go on to swell racing numbers next year.

What I have learned as Principal is that it is really importnat to plan progression inot your training calendar, so there is always something else for members to move on to.

I think the ubiquitous Laser has introduced more adults than most over the years in our club, there are two types of sailor, the old guard who came through the parent child squad system they're obviously front of the fleet, then the tail enders who are the 'oh think I'll buy a laser and try that sailing lark out' and the rest are a mix of bits of each, either tried it when young but not squad dies and have returned for the fun element as adults, then there is the windsurfing element who obviously learned their sail craft racing boards, so it's a right old mix, we very very rarely get straight up and down beginners, mainly because of the savagery of our launch, which is not just the beach break it's the sheer nightmare of humping boats up and down a steep beach. To that end, a single hander is far easier than a twin.
We get a few casual adults show up in Cats now and again, but they don't race, it's one thing teaching folk to sail, racing is another step up and a league into which not many folk want to go without being forced and in that regard a twin hander has to be the best bet if it's an absolute beginner from scratch, like Trev my crew and he suffers mentally at times from the torture of my competitive streak.

Owning both, I sail my single handed boat more often - simple reasoning being that it's easier to organise (or not) a sail at short notice in the single hander, given I just need to get myself and gear to the club, rather than a crew too.  

The demise of single handers is a problem for practice and experience at our club. This year we have done well with new adult members who trained in Topper/Laser with a bit of Wayfarer thrown in. All adults this year and four of them look promising (i.e. after one season they are keeping up with me). Two have bought boats, one fatty a Laser and one slim young man a Byte C2.......sensible chap!