Family of six dreaming of Curising

[Grandadventure]

We are a family of 6 who have been dreaming of casting off lines for years now. Actually my wife and I have done the bulk of the dreaming. We know very little about sailing, my wife has sailed quite a bit, but i never have. We are reading everythingwe can about it, and in the process of searching for the right Catamaran for us to sail. (we want a cat due to the space, and stability)

Any advice on cruising with kids will be helpful they are aged 12, 8, 7, 6. boy, girl, boy, girl. We want to start with a Bahama, Caribbean cruise until we decide where we want to go next. Get our sails wet and test our abilities.

All advice is welcome and wanted.

[Dick Hicks]

With four young children, and no one on board with the experience necessary to sail a catamaran, you should be thinking about locating an experienced skipper. Maybe a friend, or if not, you can hire one from a good chartering company. Even better if you have one other experience crew member. Sailing any boat requires knowledge and experience—all the more so for a large cruising catamaran i.e. 40 to 47 feet in length).

I'd start with a week in the U.S.and/or British Virgin Islands, as early as you can in the season after the kids get out of school. If the kids aren't water safe, or have any behavioral problems, I'd wait until they get older. Be sure and get them good fitting snorkelings masks, and have them practice with them in a pool before you get to your sailing destination.

I've been sailing for the last 16 years and have bare boat chartered 25 times in the Caribbean, South Pacific, Bahams, Belize and Croatia. I took my 3 boys for their first sail after they were out of college. . .I waited too long. But I took one onf my grandsons on his first trip when he was 15, which is about right. Next summe I'm taking all 5 of my grandkids (ages 10, 13, 16, 18 and 24) for a week in the BVI"s on a 46 foot cat.

I understand the "Itch" to get out on the water and the desire to make it a family experience. But you might want to leave the kids at home the first time. You and your wife go for a week (you can join a Moorings Flotilla, and just pay for your berth). You'll have a great and gain some first hand experience on what it means to cruise on a catamaran, and then decide if it's right for the family.

Hope this was helpful.

Richard

[Grandadventure]

Richard,

Thanks for the reply, I agree with much of what you said, We are planning on a charter in the BVI soon, just the wife and I to see what it is all about. - Our plan was to wait until the youngest is in middle school about age 10-11 then head out. - We are also looking into some charters around here, day and weekend trips to get the kids acclimated.

Would you suggest a sailing school? if so which one? what about getting a smaller monohull to learn on? We can get those pretty reasonable and then sale it later. I figured any experience is better than none.

Your advice is really appreciated. Thanks again

Pete

[jody]

Hi there!

We are also a family of 6. We are weekend, vacation cruisers at present, and are living along the Gulf of Mexico.

About the monohull. We have a 31 footer, and she has an excellent layout for a larger family. She has more than enough room for our gang. It sleeps 7 comfortably and she is very easy to handle for my husband and I, as well as single handed. It just depends on the boat and how it is laid out.

My husband and I knew how to sail prior to having kiddos. We raced, sailed offshore, have done some overnights and Bill has raced across the Gulf to Vera Cruz. We have owned a 24 foot Sonar and a 30 foot Albin Ballad cruiser.

Even with our knowledge base, loading 4 kids on the boat was the most nerve wracking thing ever. Whew. Fun, but certainly something to get your heart pumping. I wrote about some of my personal fears today on my blog.

It is a fantastic experience to be with your children on a boat (ours are 13, 10, 7 and 4) but I totally agree with Richards advice. Get comfortable with the basics etc. ......really, really know what you are doing, and then bring the kids on board. Having 4 kids on a sailboat is a bit like trying to put a sweater on an octopus at times.

Let us know what you decide to do and good luck!

[Grandadventure]

I found a local sailing school in Charleston SC that has the classes I think I need. In speaking with them, they seem know what I need and they are certified so I can get my certification for sailing large vessels and also a Bareboat certification. I will be taking their classes soon. - I know that will help. Then we will charter one for a few trips to get the kids and us acclimated. -

Thanks for all of the input.