Discussion
So, trying to pull together a cunning plan.
I sailed Mirrors and Enterprises as a teenager, and have only sailed 30'+ yachts since.
Wife has never sailed a dinghy, but she's done her competent crew in a yacht, and fancies doing more sailing.
Kids are still a bit young for helming or crewing (5 years!), but they're getting sensible enough to stay in a boat, and I'm happy they'd be OK floating in a bouyancy aid.
Found a nice local lake based club (felt so safe, compared to learning in the Bristol Channel!), thinking about doing a weekend course with the Mrs, then joining up in the spring with the aim to get her confident, then eventualy take the kids out. Get them learning in a few years if they show interest.
So to the question - we'll probably need to get a dinghy of our own, not sure if there's a single dinghy which fits the brief, and whilst I'll try to cadge some water time to try a few out, I'd like to narrow down the options.
I'm after something which can be sailed single handed (not neccesarily quickly / efficiently) if I'm on my own; probably with a jib so I can give a child a job when sailing with 1 or 2 boys; large enough to fit 2 adults + 2 children at a push; stable enough that I don't spend all my time fishing children out of the water or trying to uncapsize on my own; popular enough that there's good parts and maintenance support, as well as the occasional race! Budget up to £1000 with trailer, happy to need some work.
From my recollection Mirror is probably too small, Enterprise a bit tippy. Research so far suggests GP14 is worth a look, wayfarer may be too heavy (pride says I want something which isn't TOO pedestrian!). Any other ideas / recommendations?
I sailed Mirrors and Enterprises as a teenager, and have only sailed 30'+ yachts since.
Wife has never sailed a dinghy, but she's done her competent crew in a yacht, and fancies doing more sailing.
Kids are still a bit young for helming or crewing (5 years!), but they're getting sensible enough to stay in a boat, and I'm happy they'd be OK floating in a bouyancy aid.
Found a nice local lake based club (felt so safe, compared to learning in the Bristol Channel!), thinking about doing a weekend course with the Mrs, then joining up in the spring with the aim to get her confident, then eventualy take the kids out. Get them learning in a few years if they show interest.
So to the question - we'll probably need to get a dinghy of our own, not sure if there's a single dinghy which fits the brief, and whilst I'll try to cadge some water time to try a few out, I'd like to narrow down the options.
I'm after something which can be sailed single handed (not neccesarily quickly / efficiently) if I'm on my own; probably with a jib so I can give a child a job when sailing with 1 or 2 boys; large enough to fit 2 adults + 2 children at a push; stable enough that I don't spend all my time fishing children out of the water or trying to uncapsize on my own; popular enough that there's good parts and maintenance support, as well as the occasional race! Budget up to £1000 with trailer, happy to need some work.
From my recollection Mirror is probably too small, Enterprise a bit tippy. Research so far suggests GP14 is worth a look, wayfarer may be too heavy (pride says I want something which isn't TOO pedestrian!). Any other ideas / recommendations?
Thanks, I'll take a look at the comets. Re the budget - if we ened up finding out we love it, and the boys love it, I'll be happy to expand it in the future; but at the momement I want to keep it low (AKA under the radar!)
Forgot to say, additional requirement is something that is seaworthy as well as lakeworthy; I'd love to be able to take it down to Falmouth or Salcombe for example
Forgot to say, additional requirement is something that is seaworthy as well as lakeworthy; I'd love to be able to take it down to Falmouth or Salcombe for example
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