This thread should bring to light the challenges with Youth sailing.

We need another class of boat like we need a hole in our hulls. There are more Catamarans suited to youth than you can shake a stick at. Wave's are just about the best beginner boat that exists. Opti's are the biggest joke of a beginning boat that I could imagine. Gee, could we make it any more difficult <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

The problem is that adults just cannot live with the notion of recreational sailing. Every activity has to be pointing Jr. at the Olympics or a professional career that the parents can revel in. It's a lot of pressure and too much for many that are much more realistic about the potential than their parents.

Wanna know why kids drop out of sailing teams? Because circling bouys endlessly on the weekend is not what most kids call fun.

Conversely, going out with their friends, sailing around aimlessly and having fun IS what kids like to do. But ... oh my goodness ... there is simply no chance to become a national champion like that. They must be on the water at every opportunity trying to catchup to those ahead of them. They will read books, suffer videos to get them on top where Mom and Dad want them.

Unfortunately, I have seen one too many kids pushed by their parent's dreams and desires into sports that they do not want to be in or a level that they do not want to participate in (long time coach). There is no doubting the adage of "just add parents to remove the fun".

If you wish to help promote Youth sailing then go to your local clubs, teams and dealers and encourage them to support recreational sailing. Put on FREE (oh, my goodness yes ... FREE) learn to sail camps. Waves and H16's can cover the challenge bases and are the least expensive to buy and maintain.

Living in Florida, I have NEVER seen any promotion for Hobie's ever. A rolling road show as mentioned earlier in the thread would be magnificent. Nothing like seeing these things parked on a beach and getting a free ride.

My kids tried the Opti fleet thing, hated it (boring) and just wanted to sail for fun. I took them and a friend out on the Gulf, visited some islands on the Intracoastal to let them shell and they said it was the most fun they had ever had and they cannot wait to do it again.

We need to ensure that our kids realize that they can take the learn to sail camp and just keep right on sailing for fun. Unfortunately, the bar gets set way too high and the focus gets set on traveling Regatta teams with Saturday & Sunday practices. I am not saying there is anything wrong with this, it is just that this satisfies the needs of very few children and hence the lack of interest.

Recreation drives every sport and that is a fact <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />