New sailing boat

Hifive

I bought this Laser Stratos on Monday as I plan to teach the kids to sail during the summer.

I looked at the price of the kids sailing courses in Dunmore East here in Waterford, (about €200.00 a week) and decided this would be a better investment.

Some background.
I have been sailing since I was about seven.
I was lucky enough to grow up on Strand Road in Sutton, opposite the boat slip, and spent my early years exploring my corner of Sutton creek in an Optimist dinghy followed over the years by a Mirror, a Laser, a Bullett.14 and about 10 windsurfers.

When myself and the brother got the Oppy first, he 9 me 7, the old man, who knew absolutely nothing about sailing, used to tie one end of a huge ball of string to the boat and sit on the big rock outside our house holding the other end of the string while we sailed about. He'd take the opportunity, while my mum couldn't see him, to smoke his pipe.
When the pipe went out, or he got bored, he would reel us in with the string and just pull the Oppy up on the shingle beach ready for the next day.

Happy memories, and it's those sort of memories that I'm hoping to replicate with my 4 kids.

I believe sailing is a great way of gaining a bit of independence and I also believe that each time young kids push off from the slip, sailing away, completely under their own steam (no string!), they begin a new adventure, while their parents have the satisfaction of knowing they are helping equip them to better face whatever challenges may come their way later in life.

The boat,
She's a 2004 Laser Stratos.
Shes fairly hefty at 16'2 X 6'5 and 190 KG but should fit the six of us without too much bother,
She has a trapeze (which I haven't fitted yet) and a BIG asymmetric gennaker on a bow sprit, so she should be a bit of fun in a blow

Bring on the summer!

Mark.

HeidiHeidi

I LOVE the story about your Dad and the ball of string

Well wear with the new boat, or whatever the nautical version of that phrase is.

I only discovered sailing in my 30's and have been frantically trying to make up for lost time ever since. I reckon it's one of the best things you could do for kids, to give them a love/appreciation/respect for the sea. My nephew has also made quite a nice student living out of instructing as well.

Best of luck with it all

pclancy

That is a great story, ye must have fantastic memories and good luck creating many more in your lovely laser!

miss no stars

HeidiHeidi wrote: »

I reckon it's one of the best things you could do for kids, to give them a love/appreciation/respect for the sea.

Agree completely

Beware, though, if the bug bites you might find yourself forking out for club membership!

Hifive

miss no stars wrote: »

Agree completely

Beware, though, if the bug bites you might find yourself forking out for club membership!

Just checked with Waterford Harbour sailing club in Dunmore East today!

Family membership @ €350.00 seems ok (if I hadn't just blown the budget on the boat of course) but outdoor unsecure storage, which is basically just a space in the car park beside the clubhouse, @ €300.00 is a bit of a sting.

miss no stars

Hifive wrote: »

Just checked with Waterford Harbour sailing club in Dunmore East today!

Family membership @ €350.00 seems ok (if I hadn't just blown the budget on the boat of course) but outdoor unsecure storage, which is basically just a space in the car park beside the clubhouse, @ €300.00 is a bit of a sting.

Ouch on the storage, I'd at least want somewhere secure! That said, family membership is such good value that it kind of offsets the parking. If you want to sail it though it's probably worth it - it's a lot easier to get yourself and the kids to the club than get yourself, the kids and the boat there!