Older children

I have often wondered if sailing has been - on the whole - such a good experience for my five children. Has it contributed to their behaviour if not their character? I think it must have contributed to a sense of tidiness because on a small boat everything has its place and if it isn't put back then it can't be found again when it is needed in a hurry, or at the first puff of wind it slides off the table and breaks or spills all over the place.

Sailing is to do with being orderly rather than disorderly. And indeed, obeying orders from the skipper (also known as Dad who at home is less often obeyed), a trait honed by much bedtime reading of Swallows and Amazons and the now out of print Little Tim books by Edward Ardizonni. Also, family sailing must contribute to a sense of relying on each other, particularly in times of not exactly danger but at least some anxiety. After all when Dad is at the mast trying to reef and Mum is hanging on to the tiller is not a good time for a child to demand instant attention. Also the children have to become self reliant and reliable in all kinds of quite small things like tying knots (so a good knots and splicing book is a must), securing the tender on the stern, cleating sheets and so on.

Of course the whole experience of sailing in the Hebrides gives the children an amazing close up introduction to wild life (birds, seals, dolphins, jelly fish, flowers and whatever) and just appreciating wild and beautiful places in what I hope is an ecologically acceptable way (although I do worry about the antifouling).

And what to reply to those families that do their 'sailing' in the Mediterranean or even the Caribbean and who cannot imagine swimming in Scotland? Buy wetsuits and go snorkelling.

And what does one do with the little darlings when they get bored? Curiously that seems less of a problem while sailing than on land where just sitting in the same place and doing very little would be unheard of. It would be unheard of me too. It must be something to do with the rhythm of the sea. On a wet day in the cabin it is down to games of whatever takes their normal fancy. Or cooking cakes, bread, dinner, anything really. Reading to them also can take up lots of time, but do chose books that you enjoy too (Arthur Ransome is an obvious choice). Of course once they read for themselves, even if it seems and probably is literary junk, your problem is solved.

Finally, a wonderful tip from New Zealand friends to give them a goal, skills and an interest is to produce certificates that each child has to work through: cabin boy or girl, ship's boy or girl, second mate, first mate and so on (not skipper of course!). You can make up your own curricula but to give you some ideas, click here for ours. In fact I don't believe the children ever finished them before they were on to their real RYA dinghy sailing qualifications.