Scottish anchorages

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 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 obeying orders from the skipper (also known usually as Dad but sometimes Mum, 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, securing 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, but then I have got an electric outboard motor).

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, particularly without a TV or DVD player. 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, jigsaws (of nautical scenes of course), drawing and colouring in, card games, dominos. A CD player or an ipod is an essential item, for stories and songs. Try cooking cakes, bread, dinner, anything really. Reading to them can take up lots of time, but do chose books that you enjoy too (Arthur Ransome is an obvious choice, Harry Potter although I personally have never really got on with him). Of course once they read for themselves, even if it seems and probably is literary junk, your problem is solved. Really just do what you normally do at home but without recourse to the TV.