Hi... ex Shearwater and Spitfire sailor here..... my 11 yr old daughter doesn't like her Oppie (never has really!) despite being pretty good in a boat.  I've got a possible opportunity to get her a KL10  (possibly it's a KL10.5), but I don't know anything about them.  She's not into the "racing" thing, no matter how much I try and persuade her, and she's always had a love of cats (from those I used to sail when she was much younger).  I've also got an 8 yr old son (who's built like and 11 yr old) that is a bit of an adrenalin freak, so maybe the cat is the right thing for him too, for when he's not learning to race his Oppie.

Your thoughts much appreciated

I'm most suprised the cat frat haven't responded to you in gusto !

So leaves me !!!

Go for it , if she is keen and one available at reasonable price and she likes it , what can you lose ,KL10.5's are popular in France (where the French take their junior cat sailing seriously )  and are a proper small cat designed for youngsters , pretty bullit proof too., theres a lot of old stinker cats that appear on ebay etc , this is not one of them and such should sail properly and in one piece giving your daughter a good in road into cat sailing .

Get her out in it and enjoy herself , time on water at that age most important , anything further will develope itself , if she isn't competitive I can understand her aversion of the oppie . oppie competetion can be particularily fierce on and off the water , i've seen fathers setting them up with digital verniers to get things right , before setting off in their Ribs to verbally encourage their progeny around the water.

Sounds like cat sailing is for her worth a shot , let her start with a relaxed "fun " approach , you never know what will develope .

Good Luck

PS whats this x cat sailing bit - get youself something too and back out

Thanks so much for your reply.... that was exactly my thinking!  I don't want to become the high-pressure oppy-Dad, and would much rather she enjoyed her sailing and we let it develop naturaly (she really is very good IMHO), than force her to sail when she's not enjoying it until she refuses to go!

How does the KL compare to the smaller Newcats?  Apparently the KL I've been offered (not seen pics yet) is quite old and is a KL10 rather than a 10.5 ?

As for me getting back into cat... I'd love to, but need a single-hander as my job would have me letting down a crew regularily, and I do my sailing at Farmoor, so it's quite restricted water for a fast cat.  Was thinking about an A class or Unicorn, but finances are tight.... currently sail a V old Int Canoe, and my company's Dart 16 with the kids when it's blowing old boots!

Do bear in mind that the oppie parents you describe are more of a product of the parent's character than the boat's character.

A pushy @rsehole will be just that whatever boat their kid sails.

A parent has far more power to put a child off sailing than the choice of boat ever will.

But you also have the power to make it fun too.

The only other thing to consider is the social side. If there is a local oppie club there will be lots of kids to sail with. For the time being, cat sailing for 10 year olds may be a little lonely.

"How does the KL compare to the smaller Newcats?  Apparently the KL I've been offered (not seen pics yet) is quite old and is a KL10 rather than a 10.5 ?"

Not sure to be honest , but KL are a reputeable builder , so you shouldn't go far wrong if you don't pay much , hopefully someone may chip in with more knowledge in this respect .

as for your sailing , there's usually good buys in Unicorns but beware of buying one without research , some better than others (some old home built ones fall to bits - others can be very good )  , Very good older one on Unicorn Website "Fast Fingers " , its an old one , but was built by class guru at time  John Wright who won nationals on it  , i imagine its still in immaculate nick the owner Grant ??? has had it for donkeys and hasn't sailed it for yonks , Grant is a perfectionist , I think its on at a "steal " price  Unicorn sailors are very helpfull and the likes of Gary Piper ( john Wrights disciple and now class Guru ) will help I'm sure .

As for A's theres an older Delta A on A class website a Roger Dewen Design its been pimped up and a good entry level to class which can get VERY exspensive .

Roger too , very helpfull I think his contacts are somewhere on class site too

Stealths are the dogs bollocks , and can be sailed solo too , cheap secondhand rarer than hens teeth at the moment though ,

As usual I've strayed off topic , sorry

1 dad with cat experience + 1 keen lightweight daughter = a great combination for a Dart 18!

Great combination for most things !

I'm wondering if My kids will want to sail the F16 when they get a little older.

All 3 sails sailing almost single handed will be fun; might need a 100:1 downhaull for the kids (or maybe do it myself).

But only of they want to !

bit of a schrs bandit too !

guess you two up with a kid would weigh less than me solo and you get benefit of two up handicap plus extra sail area and another two hands - small they would be .

Guess in my next life its growth inhibitors and keep of the cheese n toast /beer diet through my formative years

Might be very scary in an F7 mind.....

I agree with Gareth.

From my experience, the parents that shout at their children from RIBS are like school masters. They are boys amongst men and men amongst boys.