Pick a class, any class

There are literally hundreds of classes to choose from when you’re deciding to get into sailing.

From a young age in Australia, the most popular options are either Sabot, Manly Junior or Optimist. Sabot and Optimist, single hull bathtubs, Manly Junior, three sail bathtub and a little more technically advanced.

My parents chose for me to enter the sailing world in a Sabot as 2up. Me as crew and a guy as skipper. Lucky I was small. Then as I got a little older I was able to race the Sabot in the 1up division. However by this stage I was tired of working my arse off to go a measly 5 knots, so and upgrade to the Manly Junior was requested and received. For a kid aged between 13 to 16 it was the most fun I could ever envisage. (Plus I made the ‘Hall of Fame’) I was never subjected to Optimist racing.

Now that I look back I realise that having not ever sailed in an Optimist fleet is a real shame. I was never able to compete at an International level in my youth. Never sailed in a class which is the only under 16 fleet fully supported by ISAF. Instead I was amongst a localised fleet racing against local people with local ideas.

On a Sabot start line, 150 was an awesome site. On a Manly Junior Start line, the same number was a spectacle on water. But imagine being part of a fleet of over 350 on one start line with an array of different languages being screamed down the line. You just can’t compete with that.

But what fleet poses the most benefits?

Sabots
Strong supported fleets, but only Australian

Manly Juniors
Strong supported fleets and three sail racing (learn about a jib and kite from a young age)

Optimists
Supported by ISAF, international, but a really odd rig and hull shape

If you are Australian what class would you get your kids into, or what class did you choose. If you are from abroad, what classes are competing with the Optimist fleet and do you think that fleet is the “optimum” for kids under 16?

What should they be learning? Big fleet racing, the fundamentals of three sail racing or just plain appreciation for the sport…?