I would like to learn to sail.

[poissonrouge]

In fact, dh and I would like to learn together.

How do we start?

Is sailing compatible with having small children?

We're not in UK, but I imagine you can learn to sail anywhere there is sea.

What starting pointers would you give to a sailing virgin?

Only two suggestions really (though watching with interest as would love to learn too) - firstly, would you be more comfortable learning on a lake than the sea? Secondly, DH and I have decided that probably the easiest way for us to get an idea of whether we would like it is to go on a holiday-type sailing course where a creche is provided (we have three dcs and the youngest is only two). I'm sure sailing IS compatible with dcs, but maybe not at the beginner learning stage!

Hopefully someone who knows better will be able to offer more appropriate advice.

I did some sailing in a bigish boat rather than a dinghy. The main thing not compatible with small children is that they have to sit still and not get in the way (and not dive overboard) so quite dull.

There is a lot of learning to do if that's what you want. The RYA in this country recommend going through a competent crew course when you learn basic boat handling, a day skipper course when you can be in charge of a boat in familiar waters, coastal skipper, and yachtmaster. You also have to do more sailing hours to build experience.

DH and I are both in theory coastal skippers but we aren't confident enough to sail with the children at the moment. If you hit a bad patch of weather or something you need to be able to cope without worrying about what the DCs are up to (ours are nearly 4 and 1).

DH has done some dinghy sailing and I am going to do a course in it this summer as we think that will be easier and more family friendly when the DCs can swim. Its also closer so more opportunity to do it.

Where are you?

Sailing is compatible with having small children - how old are they? If they're not tiny wee, you can all learn together.

Yes - you can learn to sail anywhere there's water. In the UK you should find a course run by a recognised RYA Training Estabishment - there are many of them.

Do you want to learn to sail dinghies, or larger yachts or powerboats?

If you take a proper course, run to National Governing Body standards, you will of course have qualified instructors and safety boat teams - provided in the ratios, so whether you take the course on the sea or on an inland waterway, you will remain perfectly safe.

A sailing holiday is a lovely way to learn - providing you ensure it is set up to actually learn - and gain a qualification, not just to sail in the presence of an instructor.

Sunsail and the like are all run as RYA Training Establisments, regardless of where in the world they are, so all follow the same curriculum and deliver it with instructors qualified to recognised levels.

Tell me more about what sort of sailing you fancy and where you want to learn to do it

start with dinghy sailing on a lake. In the UK you would find your nearerst RYA beginners' course, which would be a few days to do basics.

you could then go to a lake and hire a dinghy for the day and take it in turns to sail/look after dcs on the shore.

how old are your dcs?
we used to sail pre-children but have been too scared to do so since having them. (DH used to have a lovely wooden yacht ).
but the 4yo and 5yo ones are now at the stage where they could have a ride in a biggish dinghy; we take them out in canoes and they are good at sitting still.

meant to add: but we have friends who were much more chilled about it - friend with a Broads yacht used to wedge the carrycot under the thwart and take the baby sailing.