Parents

The chair of the junior sailing program (of which I am head instructor) asked me if there were any specific messages I would like her to pass on when she meets with the parents of kids in the program.

Ahah! A chance to vent about some of my frustrations with a small minority of the parents. And perhaps head off some problems before they occur this year. Most of the basics about what kids and parents need to do are covered in written instructions. But there were a few things I wanted her to emphasize.

1. Bring your kid to class on time - at least 5 minutes before class begins. Classes start on time. If your kid isn't there they could miss important instructions about what we are doing that day or a fun activity. In some classes we will be rigging the boats immediately and going sailing, so a kid who is late could miss out on sailing or hold the whole class up while we scramble to help them get their boat rigged which is not fair to the other kids.

2. Collect your kid on time. The instructors are not paid to be child minders and, after teaching sailing to your kids for several hours, they deserve (often need) their free time.

3. Contrary to what some parents assume it is not always 90 degrees and dry in New Jersey in the summer. Some days it is cool. Some days it is rainy. We go sailing when it is cool. We go sailing in (light) rain. The only things that stop us sailing are no wind, too much wind, torrential rain or thunderstorms. So make sure your child brings clothes for cool weather and rainy weather. A sweatshirt and a waterproof top at least. Put them in the kid's bag and bring them every day so you don't forget. There is nothing more miserable than a kid out sailing in the rain and cold wearing only a swimsuit. Don't let it happen to your kid.

4. If you are staying at the club please allow the instructors to run the program. They will ask for your help if they need it which should be extremely rarely. If a kid has to leave an on-the-water activity for any reason we will radio the shore parent to meet that kid at the dock and look after them. Do NOT go out in a motor boat and follow your kid during a class or practice race and shout at him or her with extra instructions. Your kid will hate it. (Yes - that has happened.)

OK. Glad I got that off my chest. Most of the parents are knowledgeable about sailing and supportive of the instructors. It's just the odd one or two that cause problems for us.

The junior program starts a week today. Can't wait to meet all the new kids and to help them discover this absorbing, rewarding, fascinating (and sometimes frustrating) life-long sport.