DD7 - learning to sail, is this a bad idea?

[SpringHasSprungTheGrassIsRiz]

DD7 had a go at a sailing taster on a lake at the weekend and loved it and I am getting persuaded into signing her up for Sunday classes to learn via the RYA scheme. Is this a good idea?

I am clueless - grew up riding by DD isn't interested - but my father was a serious sailor so I do enjoy being around boats. We are no where near the sea.

Good or bad idea? All experinces welcome!

Why would it be a bad idea? Is the lake she's learning on local?

It’s a fun hobby, I sailed on lakes and reservoirs myself in my teens

I did it myself as a pre teen and teen.

it’s healthy and not screens.
she will fall in at some point.

Sounds like a great idea!

Are the classes geared towards children that young though? I ask because round our way a lot of the kids do sailing classes through school at ages 9- 10, and there is a brisk drop out rate due to it being a) sometimes really cold, b) sometimes pretty scary! (full disclosure, I'm quite a lot older than that, and I did a course for school parents, and capsizing terrified me!).

It also depends on your DD's spirit- is she quite adventurous and gung ho, or inclined to be nervous? If the latter, I'd wait a couple of years tbh.

My kids all learnt to sail ( on a loch as not near the sea either) was all pretty good fun and excellent for teaching resilience. There’s nothing quite like getting dunked into chilly water (obviously wearing wetsuit/ safety jacket) then learning to get your topper the right way up. It always seemed really safe, multiple instructors and safety boats. It was a friendly crowd. no downsides for me apart from it being a bit of a drive.

Absolutely! Outside, skills, what is not to like?!

It's a great idea but beware! My oldest son is now in our local youth team so we travel all over the East Midlands most weekends so he can race. Thankfully the youngest is happy just to play and sail with his cousin. It's a great skill to have though.

DS did a similar RYA course on our local reservoir for three days one half-term, and the next stage the year after. Plus quite a bit of kayaking. Wetsuit and packed lunch essential, plus something warm to put on afterwards.

I have very happy memories sailing and kayaking - DS was never up for it but has a friend who is now a qualified instructor having started at that age. His sailing club has a cafe/bar which is a bonus!

Yes fantastic! My dc did a weeks RYA course and had a lot of fun. It’s not something they have wanted to take up regularly but are interested in the idea of a family flotilla holiday somewhere hot .
Such activities are always worthwhile.

Thank you all - looking positive! I suppose I am trying to justify to DH why it is a good idea for me (as I will be doing the ferrying) to give up my Sunday mornings for the summer to take her. I think it will be fun and she will build independence and resilience, he wouldn't commit.

DH volunteer coaches youth sailing and the kids have so much fun! Dc are both sailors and I currently have a fireball they are doing up on the drive! It is a lovely sport and community. You will need some gear, invest in decent wetsuits etc.

Best sport in the world (am biased, my kids compete internationally and are in RYA squads, it’s our whole lives!)
but apart from competition it teaches so so much - this makes me teary every time I see it
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHLtGshOO_I/?igsh=OGh4N3F4N3k5NDcx

We did it as kids every summer. We used to capsize our little boats on purpose for the fun of it. Or capsize and scramble over the side so you were sitting on the bottom of the upside down boat staying nice and dry.

I remember a few kids getting smacked in the head by the boom but no serious incidents if safety is the concern.

It is a great sport. If they want to compete at a high level it becomes incredibly expensive and time-hungry though. We loved our years on the regional/ national/ international Topper circuit, but doing that and working full time nearly broke me. If you don't have a sailing background yourself it's also an extremely steep learning curve!

I think when you have kids you kind of need to accept the chances are you will be ferrying them to some sort of activity for a period at some point. With Dd it was ice skating every Sunday morning which was over an hour away to the nearest rink.

Plenty of parents I know take their kids to football every week and have to stand on a cold touchline watching. So it could have been worse, at least I was inside watching the skating. Does the sailing carry on all year? You don’t have to be near the sea, I sailed as a kid a lot and only sailed on rivers and lakes.

It's a brilliant sport for building confidence and physical strength. Builds awareness of your surroundings and nature too, as you learn to read the wind and the water.

I'd say the only downside is it can get expensive if she gets seriously into it, particularly if she wants to compete, but there are ways to enjoy it cheaply.

Have done this with DC. Sailing on lakes is rather lovely to watch. Instructors usually have quite a chilled vibe so sitting, in a nice outdoor environment, with tea/coffee/croissant on a Sunday morning with a book. Do it!

My daughter has been learning from about 6 and my son a little older. It's great.
We live in London and you can even sail on the Thames!

My daughters sailed dinghy’s for a few years and loved it. It’s a great sport

I think that basically any new experience is worth having, especially for kids. She might love it, she might not but she’ll learn a lot and have fun. What’s not to like?