NCW kid’s wetsuits & dinghy sailing – they suit this activity too!

We talk about watersports lots at NCW – that much is obvious. One area that we don’t cover as much – even though we should – is dinghy sailing. And specifically, dinghy sailing for kids.

Having the opportunity to bimble around in light wind, getting used to the way a boat handles and therefore intuitively getting to grips with wind angles (and how this affects steerings and such) is great experience for kids. We appreciate it might initially be perceived as hard to get your children into a boat (if you don’t own one yourself) but plenty of sailing clubs around the country offer taster sessions and ‘have a go’ days through summer.

Time to tack – kiddy sailing style.

Dinghies are fab for wee ones as it gives them confidence in something they’ll see as ‘big’. Which if it’s a double hander, for instance, will be the case. Obviously in this situation, an experienced parent or sailing instructor will be required to supervise. But if the sailing club in question has access to child specific boats (such as Optimist class dinghies) then your children can get involved on their own (albeit in light wind with a tethering rope attached).

Even if dinghy sailing isn’t the sport of choice for your kids it’ll give them skills that straddle other disciplines. For instance: surfing requires as much understanding of wind as sailing does. Piloting a dinghy will help develop this understanding. It’s also a way to observe the water from a slightly elevated position which also gives additional knowledge. And, of course, if your kids fancy a stab at windsurfing or kitesurfing then (again) dinghy sailing will help advance their skills.

When you’re roaming about a dinghy the abrasive nature of swapping sides, clambering over ropes and continually moving requires a wetsuit that’s durable and robust. As well as warm! Being in a dinghy means less submersible activity and more chance of evaporative colling with the sailor being in the air. If your kid’s wetsuit in question can cope with this as well as standing up to scuffing and such then you know you’ve got a good ‘un.

NCW kid’s wetsuits are designed for all types of watersports – dinghy sailing included. So if your offspring are keen then give them the right kit for the job in question.

Check out more from NCW’s blog here –

https://www.northcoastwetsuits.co.uk/blog/