Sailing for Kids

A practical guide introducing sailing basics for children ages 8-15, featuring the Optimist dinghy, safety, setup, wear, and beginner-to-race tips.

Sailing for Kids is aimed at children aged 8-15 who are taking their first steps into the fantastic world of sailing. Packed full of colour photographs and diagrams, this straightforward and easy-to-understand guide is the perfect introduction to the sport. It is based on the Optimist dinghy, which is the most popular children’s sailing dinghy worldwide, and endorsed by the UK Optimist Class Association. Topics covered include what to wear, setting up the boat, sailing and safety. For those who want to go further, there are also tips on sailing faster and preparing to race.

Table of Contents

Foreword

1. Parts of the boat

2. Rigging

3. Your first sail

4. Launching

5. Reaching

6. Beating

7. Running

8. Sailing a circular course

9. Landing

10. Safety

11. How the wind moves your boat

12. Knots

13. The rules

14. How to go faster

15. What’s next?

Steve Kibble is a keen sailor who was heavily involved in the Optimist Class’ administration and training for several years.

Tim Davison competed regularly on the International Laser racing circuit in the 1970s and 1980s, and was on the podium for both the Open Worlds and European Championships and won the Masters European and UK National Championships during this time. He has won the British Moth national Championships four times as well as competing successfully in many other classes.