Junior Competition

   In the summer, we run training week (RYA courses) for the adults, but adventure week for the kids. We use young DIs and AIs to keep them safe, but as well as sailing they build dens in the woods, play games, jump in a lot. We package it as family week and last summer had a good turnout of tents and caravans for the week.

One looming issue is that in our 3rd year we need new ideas to keep both 13 year olds and 8 year olds amused. Thoughts please, as this thread is about making sailing fun!

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Rupert Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 11 Aug 04 Location: Whitefriars sc Online Status: Offline Posts: 8956	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rupert Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Junior Competition Posted: 28 Feb 19 at 8:30am
	In the summer, we run training week (RYA courses) for the adults, but adventure week for the kids. We use young DIs and AIs to keep them safe, but as well as sailing they build dens in the woods, play games, jump in a lot. We package it as family week and last summer had a good turnout of tents and caravans for the week. One looming issue is that in our 3rd year we need new ideas to keep both 13 year olds and 8 year olds amused. Thoughts please, as this thread is about making sailing fun!
	Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686

Chris 249 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 10 May 04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2041	Post Options Post Reply Quote Chris 249 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 28 Feb 19 at 11:20am
	Good posts from many, esp Dan and Bootscooter. My brother was perhaps an early casualty of burnout - won the qualifications for the Youth Worlds in 420s AND Lasers (didn't go either time but that's another story) and then made top 25 in the Laser standard open worlds a few months after turning 19 - after which he largely walked away from racing because he had to start passing subjects at uni and had no real achievable challenge. He's still mad on sailing but as a cruiser and boatbuilder, apart from the times when he hops into a Tasar and beats everyone. We had serious problems with kids being dragged out of our junior windsurfing club fleets into squads, which robbed the club fleets of critical mass, and then the kids getting burned out. It did nothing for the sport or the people in it. On the other hand, Dan, Cowes Week style racing is enormous fun in its own way. Optimising a boat and running a crew are interesting challenges and sailing an offshore style boat can be an adrenalin rush and a technical fascination whether you are the bowperson or trimmer or whatever. If you don't like it fair enough, but why disrespect it? Edited by Chris 249 - 28 Feb 19 at 11:28am
	sailcraftblog.wordpress.com The history and design of the racing dinghy.

Daniel Holman Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 17 Nov 08 Online Status: Offline Posts: 997	Post Options Post Reply Quote Daniel Holman Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 28 Feb 19 at 12:38pm
	Ok optimising and running a boat for the likes of cowes week is probably an exciting challenge for the 10% of the crew that has involvement in that part. Owner on smaller boats and pros on bigger boats. Cowes week is inshore. I’ve done it, for money, and I accept that I am a snob and spoiled by some of my dinghy racing experiences, but I think that assigning more racing significance than a precursor to a piss up to the stock car racing a load of generally vastly disparate craft in orienteering courses around a choked up piece of solent is somewhat disingenuous. That said, all those punters and owners and 90% rail meat can’t be wrong so if they like it and keep coming back then who am I to judge 😀

Rupert Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 11 Aug 04 Location: Whitefriars sc Online Status: Offline Posts: 8956	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rupert Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 28 Feb 19 at 9:40pm
	Maybe it is the social side juniors miss, not the big fleets, and once they stop, adult sailing isn't with their (buzzword) tribe. Seems like many adults find that again doing Cowes each year. Dinghy show similar, I see people from my whole sailing past, right from being a kid in the front of a Firefly.
	Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686

Daniel Holman Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 17 Nov 08 Online Status: Offline Posts: 997	Post Options Post Reply Quote Daniel Holman Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 28 Feb 19 at 10:43pm
	Good club should have that social buzz for all age groups. Good championships or even opens also, but with attendances down across the board, the advent of 3 day nationals to save precious annual leave for who knows what else, windguru effect and the age group / ability level stratification of classes like the laser, means that people don’t pitch up with a view to spending time having social intercourse so much. We are all far too busy to waste time idly chatting!