A Guide for New Parents

Welcome

For parents whose children are just embarking on the sailing journey, welcome! Cadet sailing will provide your child with the most amazing experiences both on and off the water, regardless of the level that they sail. Obviously, it is a physical activity, but it will also help them to work collaboratively as part of a team and teach them independence and resilience.

What is a Cadet?

The Cadet was originally designed by Jack Holt in 1947 and is the world’s most successful two-person training dinghy, specifically tailored towards children and young people. The Cadet is an International Class and has fleets worldwide. Here in the UK the class is governed by the UKNCCA (United Kingdom National Cadet Class Association) run by a committee of volunteers to support Cadet sailing in the UK.

Commitment

The Cadet season runs all year, with the start of the season in September. Keen sailors will sail all year round and there are training and open racing events throughout the year culminating in an annual National event during the summer, and a biennial World or European Championship. However, there is no expectation that you will be involved in year-round sailing, and it is easy to find a level of commitment that you are comfortable with, which may be club based.

The options open to sailors include the following: training at the club; races run at the club; RYA training events; racing competitions; national; internationals. Some sailors may not want to race and only want to train, others may wish to do all the aways on the training circuit (more on that in a moment). Levels of commitment need to be agreed between helm and crew at the start of the season to manage expectations.

Helm and Crew - pairing up

At the start of the season there are normally several new helms and crews looking for pairs. With training courses at many clubs offered throughout the year during the school holidays, there are other times when new members or new pairings are created. Experienced helms may ‘age out’ which means that there is constant movement and opportunities. For some parents, securing a helm or crew can feel quite daunting but if you are looking to pair up, let the Cadet squadron leader know you are looking for a helm or crew and ask around the club. It is important that helms and crews try out on taster sails or ask to pair up for a club session. It is also important that the parents make sure that the sailing ambitions of both the crew and helm are aligned.

Boats can be mixed or single sex. Cadet sailing is not gender defined, any combination of helm and crew is permitted and all sailors race on equal terms.

Cadet sailing boats are not big spaces and sailing can, at times, be pressurised and stressful, particularly in wet and windy weather conditions. It is important that there is a solid relationship between helm and crew as they will spend a lot of time together and it is important that they get on and can work together in a positive way. Pairings do not always work out; it is important to recognise that at both sailor and parent level - be honest about this from the start and throughout. Sailing should be fun as well as competitive. Being honest about commitment levels and expectations is key to the success of this relationship too.

Regular Training

Clubs normally run training on weekend mornings. It is usually run by ex-cadet sailors or sailing parents. It is normally free and included in your club membership – please check with your individual club for details about timings and what is included in membership. Regular training will help sailors develop necessary skills and is a supportive environment in which to learn. Cadet parents at your local club will be able to offer help and advice.

Club Racing

This normally happens at clubs on a weekly basis, which are open to Cadet sailors, again please check with your local club. Sailors tend to get involved in club racing once they have mastered the basics and feel more confident on the water. Racing is a terrific way to put their training into practice.

RYA Regional Training

There are dedicated Cadet RYA Regional training events run at venues that are close to our clubs. These typically happen between October and April. Training events will feature three levels of sailing so that all sailors can receive training targeted at their level of ability: Regatta Fleet is for new helms; Silver and Gold Fleets for those that have more sailing experience. Fleet allocation will depend on the experience of the helm and is decided by squadron leaders and the UKNCCA committee. Check the Training section of the website for more details about the training sessions, that include the locations and a calendar of dates.

Racing Competitions

The RYA racing competitions, such as the Junior Championships, are open to all sailors from Regatta, Silver, and Gold fleets. If young sailors are new, these competitions are still accessible and Regatta Fleet sailors will receive on the water training. The Cadet Nationals, which are held over a week in the summer, follow a similar format with three fleets and a dedicated trainer assigned to the Regatta fleet sailors throughout the week. For information and timings of these events visit the Events section of the website.

Sailing on the circuit – ‘Aways’

Sailors who attend training and events outside of their club (as described above under RYA training Events and Racing Competition) are described as sailing on the circuit and are referred to ‘aways.’ If you are new to sailing this level of commitment might be daunting at first and parents should be reassured that they can choose this level of commitment, and that there is no requirement as you may just want to sail weekly at your club.

Cost

Initially parents will need to pay a club membership fee (family or junior membership) so that their children can sail. Each individual club sets the cost – please check the membership requirements at your club. UKNCCA membership is required for training and competitions. There is a fee for entering training events at club level, as there are for ‘aways’ (training events and competitions). Most parents split these costs equally between helm and crew. For registration purposes the helm’s parents may be responsible for payments but parents should discuss the financial commitments and ensure that costs are considered, and expectations are agreed.

When travelling to aways it is also important to consider hotel, travel, and foods costs. Many parents will book a Travelodge or Premier Inn near locations as they are often accessible. Check to see where others are staying. Some big sailing clubs have accommodation and some of the parents will opt for camping, especially in the summer months.

Sailing Kit

A sailing kit is the main outlay if you are new to sailing and getting quality kit is important as getting cold on the water is the main reason a sailor might come in early and is obviously a health and safety concern. This is what is needed:

Buoyancy Aid. All sailors need a buoyancy aid of 50N with a whistle attached.

Wetsuit. Sailors need a full-length wetsuit. In the UK it is only warm enough for a shorty wetsuit in the height of summer. Full-length wetsuits have the bonus of protecting legs from bumps and bruises as you move round the boat. Wetsuits come in different weights for summer and winter. Skiff / Long John wet suites (sleeveless with a dungaree stile top half) are popular.

Dry suit. For crews, a dry suit may be a good idea. You can get a lot more layers under a dry suit than a wetsuit. A dry suit is a great piece of kit but can be a big investment. You may find these second hand, but make sure that it is watertight, otherwise it is worse than useless.

Splash vest. A good splash vest is a vital bit of the kit. Fleece lined ones are a worthwhile investment for sailing when it’s cold. Splash vests also come in lighter styles too, ideal for summer sailing. The Rooster aqua fleece (a sailing brand) is popular as an added layer over the top of your wetsuit.

Base Layers. These range from rash vests to thermal style, fleece lined layers. On warm days one rash vest under the wetsuit is fine. On chilly days you might want to put 2, maybe 3 layers - layering up is key. Get one decent set of thermal base layers. Rooster polypros are popular.

Gloves. Gloves are essential. Your sailor will work out what style they like best (fingerless or full glove). Rooster Hot Hands are popular and excellent for chilly days on the water.

Wetsuit boots. Sailing boots with a zip up the side or laces are easier to get on and off. Silver lined neoprene type socks or actual socks will help keep feet warm.

Head Gear. A warm hat and buff for the colder months and a visor or cap in the summer.

Sunglasses. These are necessary most of the year. With the sun lower in the sky in the winter months, there is a chance they will be looking straight into the sun at certain points of sailing.

Where to buy kit

Kit can be expensive. Start with secondhand kit sales at your local club, and eBay is always a good option. The Southampton Boat Show (September) and the RYA Dinghy Show (March) often give good discounts at the events. Your own helm, unless they have a younger sibling, might have kit they are happy to sell.

Wet Kit

A Dri-Buddy is something of legendary status amongst sailors (a standalone electric dryer). This will dry wet kit ready for the next day’s sailing if travelling at aways.

Sailing Boats

The boat is owned by the helm, who is responsible for maintenance, insurance, and making sure the boat and sails measure for competitions. The helm’s parents will be responsible for transporting the boat to / from aways and all on-going costs associated with the boat.

The transportation of boats on a trailer will require a car with a tow bar. Many parents find their initial towing experiences quite stressful but there are always plenty of people on hand to help with prepping and securing boats for transport. It may even be possible to ask more experienced towers to transport boats on either a double or even triple stacker.

If you are starting out as a helm and want to get more exposure to sailing before committing to purchasing a boat, most clubs have boats that can be rented for a small charge which can be used at the club for training or racing sessions. Please check the requirements for hiring a boat at your club as some clubs require specific RYA certification to hire.

Preparing to go on the water

You will need some key items to go on the water and these will be checked at events before you can go on the water. These include: a paddle which must be tied to the boat; a bailer; proper kit for the weather conditions (see section on sailing kit) which includes a 50N buoyancy aid with attached whistle; a bottle of drinking water; something to eat; suncream; a hat / visor.

Sailors can spend a long time on the water, especially once they start doing the circuit at both training events and competitions. Prepare for your sailors to be out in their boat for extended periods. They must plan in terms of clothing, food, water, and sunscreen (50 SPF). It is worth remembering that the sailors are never left to cope on their own and that a safety boat, coaches, or parents will also be on the water. Safety boats are always on hand and are happy to bring in sailors back to shore who are cold, want a comfort break or need to come off the water for any other reason.

With thanks to all the current sailing parents for giving their wisdom and advice which has enabled us to pull this guide together which includes David Little, Alice Thorogood, Corinne Whitehouse and Deb Sherwood.