Sorry Byron! I misinterpreted your post.
Anyway, the Wave Nationals are on for a week between 16 and 23 Feb so we'll be in Gerroa.
Oh well, it was a spur of the moment idea and hasn't been planned far enough ahead. There's a lot going on Windsurfing wise in NSW this year and in one way that's a good thing. Even without that, people are really busy this time of year. It will be difficult to find dates that suit everyone but maybe we should try to do this a few times each summer and people come when they can. I think having it during the school holidays is best if possible and we should go ahead for any who can make it on 12 and 13 Jan.
I'd be super keen to get involved.
I was planning on getting my two started this summer but I've had to put it off while I'm on crutches and out of the water for the summer. In fact I've had to put it off the past few summers... I seem to always be out of the water at the wrong time.
I've taught a few thousand (literally) kids to windsurf through outdoor ed programs which really just gives them a taste and is mostly done on the wrong type of gear (big boards with small sails).
I did introduce a kids program into my windsurf school which I ran separately from the outdoor ed stuff which was aimed at teaching kids to windsurf properly in the hope of them continuing the sport.
I had kids 8 and 9 years old picking it up very quickly and had one 6 year old girl who tagged along with her cousins wanting to give it a try. She had little success on the school boards even with a 1.6 sail, but when I rigged up the same sail on my 90 litre freestyle board she got going in a very short time.
I'm out for this summer, but will be keen for next summer. I should have some suitable gear for the younger crew by then too.
Although I run a windsurf school I like the idea of doing these free programs a few time a year. Maybe some shops/distributors could get behind it and offer some demo gear.
Keep the idea going KA360, hopefully the momentum will build in time for next summer.
This is a great idea.
I'd like to get out of the city and might turn up on the weekend of the 12th. Is there any recommended accommodation at Sanctuary Point?
. If you do a google search, you could try anywhere from Huskisson, Vincentia, Sanctuary Point, St Georges Basin or Basin View. The last three locations will be the closest.
I understand it is hard to make every one happy.
We would love to come but I will be racing that weekend.
We have to much racing this year making planing anything additional very hard.
Pree planing around the racing calander for next year would be the key to locking in an early date.
Cheers hope the wekend goes well.
I realy need somthing like this to get my kids going.
Sign me up for next year. With that sort of notice I'd look to get at least a full week booked in down there and the odd cheeky weekender around it. A bit overcommitted this summer already - none of it sailing related unfortunately
What are your target numbers for parents to be involved KA360? I thought the response was pretty encouraging to potentially take it to the next level of external sponsorship and paid/professional instructors (my vote for getting Barn on the job to teach kids solid technique, ironic comedy and MS Paint!).
Not sure how well developed next years sailing calendars are yet, but I think the opportunity to plan some "sponsor" style days at some of the bigger events gives you a solid captive audience of potential students? Getting a Slalom event down around Jarvis bay, a wave event close by and then heading up to Jimmy's for the Oceanics and you have a pretty good basis for a sponsored calendar just from competitors kids like byronmc. If these events have some sponsorship support and instructors you get to loosen the criteria on having a sailing parent and potentially get a few more kids involved by advertising it more broadly.
I still think the non-sponsored family get togethers are a given though! If we can't get our sh!te together to organise some weekends to do this next season it would be pretty disappointing indeed.
a November weekend at Sanctuary Point is a great idea to kick off the season.
December is tough with school finishing, end of year events and christmas, but could look to do an adhoc weekend off the back of how things go in November? Might be an opportunity to tie this session into one of the sailing calendar events at the most appropriate location (when the calendars are out).
January is a given I would think for a weekend, possibly even extending into some weekdays? (I'd be looking to do a full week in Jan based around Sanctuary/Jervis).
February for a potential weekend also, probably again driven off how things have gone in Jan? Maybe another sailing calendar event - possibly the oceanics?
The idea of the "sponsored" weekends tied into adult events was not so much about shelling out for lessons, more around getting access to the infrastructure that goes with these events (so sponsors, gear and the broader windsurfing community present). It also might provide some structure around the dates we try and get together. For mine, this would only be in addition to any "core" weekends that we can arrange around your initial format of a like minded family weekend.
I agree that our motives and responsibilities as sailing parents are different and your idea of getting a group going together along that journey is truly admirable. Aligning it with some of the commercial/existing windsurfing groups along the way could be a benefit for all involved, although that it isn't necessarily a priority from where we are at now.
Having seen what the kid I teach did last Saturday when sharing the spot with another guy about his age, it is obvious that emulation between kids is a very strong lever to force them to improve:
Seeing the other kid reaching upwind on the way back, mine suddenly stopped bearing away... I guess he didn't want to look bad going round the net for the fourth time of the day.... 
I would suggest including kids at the "NSW Windsurfing Tour" events.
That way it is more like mini holidays for the whole family, but there are resources available eg rescue boats.
You can build on it from there, eg hire someone to teach, have mini events/goals BBQs etc....
This would be a win-win for the actual events also as it would add another dimension and maybe encourage sponsors to be more supportive?
Pretty rough thought process, but i'm keen to push it....
PS, my 9yr old made a new windsurfing friend on the weekend and loved having someone his own age to sail with (above photo)...this is key to his long term enjoyment of the sport...
).
Gday sailors
My kids and i think this is a great idea!
My daughter has been nagging me to get her a rig for a while now (shes 8).
If anyone is of the camping sorts i can highly reccomend a nice camp spot called myall lakes national park. It's super shallow and super safe for learning. It's where i learnt when i was 6 and where i still go to date to sail. The wind is however a little fickle, but for learning, PERFECT!!!
I cant make the original dates posted but am super keen for future days.
OK, summary of the contenders to date (from public info only). Apologies for errors/omissions, it's a start anyway. Thought it might be useful to tag those that do the NSW Events for planning purposes.
Mission is to try and find a few more that might have missed this post, I can think of a couple. I can also move this to google docs to make it accessible to just those on the list (not fully public) and open up the amount of info if appropriate? Might be useful as base level info for getting in contact with interested parties in addition to posting here on Seabreeze.
I think Akim's suggestion of prioritising a November date for a weekend is a good start. Might need to wait for the NSW WT event calendar to be out first before putting it in the diary though. Any idea when it is due out?
What next?
We will be at Hakes Nest (Jimmys Beach) from 24Jan13-03Feb13.
My 2 kids (7 and 9yrs) will be sailing every day.
There will also be the Race-board, Kids BIC's, and Formula events going on, so lots of activitiy with a big BBQ on the beach on Saturday 26Jan.
This is a beautifula holiday location with a safe flat water beach for the kids to learn.
We would love other parents and kids to come along. We would be happy to share gear etc.... www.hawksnestrealestate.com.au for accommodation ideas. booking this late you should be able to get last minute deals?
I'm sure everyone has figured out that this weekend will not be going ahead due to the fires in the area.
Unfortunately, we are doing the Guy Cribb course and can't go to Hawkes Nest either.
Under finned - I like your list - good start!
It's nice to see all the input and I think it will result in a good outcome for next year.
Obviously it will be useful to get the calendar as soon as possible.
Brett, I think there is a lot of merit in your proposal but as you say it needs to be refined. Some things you should think about is whether parents will be able to set aside time for the kids if they are competing. Also, for those not competing who might not want to come for the whole duration of the event, how will you ensure that the time allocated to the kids is not shifted around under the influence of those competing who are likely to want to secure the best wind conditions.
I'm tending to think that tacking something on to events will have it's place and the idea should be developed but is most likely to work when the kids have progressed and are ready to take a part in the event at some level. Otherwise, organising paid lessons to keep them occupied when the parents compete.
I think my original proposal needs it's own timeslot at least initially.
Once again, if anyone comes this way this summer and you want to meet up, please send me a PM.
I'd like to mention the kid isn't mine.... 
And he has a 7 yo brother who had his first try the other day too. They each have their micro-freak rig. And they are based in Sydney
