By Gretchen Curtis

Teaching sailing can be a tricky business. A class of 13-year-olds in 420s may seem harmless, but factor in the token rambunctious kid who loves to capsize, a somewhat complicated boat, and a curveball or two from Mother Nature and you have a recipe for potential disaster.

Last summer I taught junior sailing (10- to-17-year-olds, from total beginners to experienced racers) at Sandy Bay Yacht Club in Rockport, Massachusetts. Like many junior sailors, our kids start out in Optimist dinghies and move into 420s as they get older, bigger, and more experienced. The transition can be challenging, if not completely overwhelming. All of a sudden there’s a jib, another person, lines running everywhere, and a spinnaker to deal with (the thought of which can be daunting to a beginner). What if there was a new boat (or boats) that could make the transition from Optis to 420s easier and more fun?

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