Passing the joy of sailing on to the next generation

[Mark Prouty]

Well, here I am trying to pass on the joy of sailing to my 13 year old son when what does he do? He gets into a wrestling match with his georgeous 18 year old instructor. Well, she got the better of him and pushed him off the pier into the water. On the way down, he caught his foot and fractured his ankle. There goes my sailing partner.

Ah, I have some friends that can't wait to go out but not as fun as the kid. No first mate.

Well, now he can hang out with his friend with the broken elbo. He is the boy with the flying arms in my pic.

[Tony D-26X_SusieQ]

Buy 'em books, send 'em to school and what do they do? Eat the teacher!

Hay just cause he is in a cast shouldn't interfier with his at least taking the helm. He could handle the headsail sheets too without too much trouble. And if nothing else he can get drinks. Maybe since she put him out of commission his instructor might take his place. I know the frustration. My crew is in France taking a cooking class. Can't understand why she has to use sailing season for that kind of thing. What does she think winter is for?

[kmclemore]

Re passing on the joy of sailing... I didn't think my two little boys (8 and 10 years old) were all that interested in my hobby, but I was surprised....

I've had a Boston Whaler Harpoon 4.6 sailboat for the last 24 years.. my dad and I used to sail it together until he moved back to Tennessee... and I decided this past year that, as much as I loved my Harpoon, it was time to upgrade to something that the whole family could go out on and do a few sleep-overs. I'd crewed for many years for an old friend with a C&C 36, so I knew how to handle a larger sailing craft, but I also knew the boys would want something they could get dragged around with, too, so I settled on a powersailer and the Mac was what I chose... I bought my 26X and shortly thereafter I mentioned at dinner that I had put the Harpoon up for sale.

My boys, who had otherwise seeminly had only a passing interset in sailing, suddenly looked up at me and yelled, nearly in unison, "NO!!" and my youngest then said "No, Dad.. we've had that boat for a really long time - you can't sell it!! We want it!!" I looked over at the wife who was cringing, as she'd been hoping that we'd get some money back from the sale of the Harpoon (they hold their value incredibly well - I can actually sell it now for MORE than I bought it for!).. so I said that if the boys would commit to learning to sail it, they could keep it for themselves.

Well, they are off at camp now in New Hampshire - they're the third generation of my family to go to this camp, so it's kind of a tradition I suppose - and they have written to me that they are already working on their sailing, taking out the Sunfish out onto Lake Winnepesaukee.

Looks like I'll be keeping the Harpoon.

[Mark Prouty]

Well, they are off at camp now in New Hampshire - they're the third generation of my family to go to this camp, so it's kind of a tradition I suppose - and they have written to me that they are already working on their sailing, taking out the Sunfish out onto Lake Winnepesaukee.

Looks like I'll be keeping the Harpoon.

Wow, you'll have a great crew!

[Scott]

Yer right. I feel very fortunate that my kids all love sailing. (All 4 of them)

It makes me feel as though Im actually passing a family tradition along to them. They will be 4th generation sailors.

Most importantly I think it gives them an appreciation for something other than loud music and fast cars. "Peace, serenity, symbiosis with the environment and of course a sense of accomplishment in an activity not widely understood or mastered.

[Mark Prouty]

hear ya greybird-M - never mind

[greybird-M]

range. . .bearing. . .MARK!!

one does not even have to read between the lines. . .