"toad" <toad_oftoadhall@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:1191226921.645815.290200@19g2000hsx.googlegroups.com...
> On 29 Sep, 21:53, Matt Colie <mattco...@providenospam.net> wrote:
> > toad wrote:
> > >
> > > We can assume they are wearing appropriate kit. Wet or Dry suit.
> >
> > We can not assume this.
>
> No but I do sail against young sailors from time to time and I've yet
> to see one who didn't own a wet suit in recent times.
>
> >  One
> > of the objects of a youth sailing program is not to scare the youth out
> > of sailing.
>
> Yet you are bandying hysterical words like 'survival' around and
> suggesting they can't sail their boat at all for lack of weight.
> Hardly likely to inspire them with confidence!
>
> Going out sailing in a blow may well be intimidating for them at first
> - and that is why it's essential that they get stuck in and do it as
> much as possible a) for the feeling the euphoria of overcoming a
> challenge b) so they can compete with their peers right now in a wide
> range of conditions and c) so they don't grow up to be frightened of
> wind and waves which would rather limit their future sailing!
>
> > >> In actual fact, the upper end of this scale will be
> > >> approaching survival sailing in such a boat.
> >
> > > Survival? Survival? Perlease!
> >
> > That is my opinion.
>
> LOL! If you think capsizing a dinghy is risky try windsurfing or kite
> surfing or water skiing any of the other sports where a dunking is
> just part of the fun. Even worse downhill skiiing where falling over
> on stuff that can actually break limbs is part of the fun. A sailing
> boat is one of the safest places you can be!
>
> > This can and will make
> > the smaller boats much harder to handle than one might expect.
>
> I think that bollocks but if it were true it would be even more reason
> to get out there frequently and master it so they can have even more
> fun and compete with their friends.
>

I have never sailed a Cadet but remember competing with them in the Mirror I
owned more years back than I care to remember.   IIRC the Cadet was a
training dinghy for youngsters maybe a step up from the Optimist so
presumably they were designed to be sailed by inexperienced, lightweight
crew and not too demanding.  AFAIR they sailed OK in the Thames Estuary, do
not remember them having any reefing system.  Most had no wet suits then,
just a woolly bobble hat, clammy PVC jacket, shorts and plimsolls and if you
were lucky one of those yellow plastic waistcoats masquerading as a buoyancy
aid failing which an ex MN Kapok strait jacket "thingy".  We did have a
rescue boat though.  But we went out sailing every Saturday and Sunday in
almost any conditions.  Must have been stark raving bonkers!

Chris