Climbing into the mast
On board, children want to aim high. The rig is the perfect high ropes course
The boatswain's chair exerts a great fascination on the next generation. The boat becomes a small silhouette, its movements intensely perceptible and the view stretches far out over the harbour. But even slightly above deck height, the bosun's chair is perfectly suited as a swing for self-determined swinging around.
At anchor, the rig serves as a halyard for a daring jump overboard or, for more experienced acrobats, for spinnaker flying. A hammock or hammock chair can also be attached to the rig and can be used by the crew to pass the time.
Swimming
As soon as the temperatures allow, children want to get into the water
Water exerts a magical attraction on children, and with the neoprene shorties available everywhere today, they can spend hours in the cool water. There are no limits to the imagination. Swimming around the anchored ship, diving underneath it, jumping into the water from a tree or the spreader or snorkelling close to the beach - it's all great fun.
Discover the harbour
Every marina has a children's crew in summer - and new arrivals are automatically involved
Every new harbour worker usually brings their own tools anyway. These are crab fishing rods, landing nets, sinking nets, the bailer or the transparent observation bucket for the catch, or even the search magnet, the longboard and the scooter. In addition, each harbour has its own secrets that need to be discovered after mooring: nooks and crannies, playgrounds and slipways and, of course, the new crew.
When boredom sets in: look for things like Pippi Longstocking. If that's too mundane for you: look for things and build a model boat out of them. Or even several - to organise a regatta.
Fishing
From the pier, from the dinghy or on the move: the hunt for prey is fascinating
Equipment suitable for the fishing area and the fishing licence must be purchased before the trip, as it is a matter of the appropriate treatment of animals - and there are clear rules for this. In Scandinavia, fishing licences are purchased from the tourist offices and there is no need to take a test. And then you can start catching and preparing your own meal.
Sail it yourself
Perhaps the most important game is not a game at all - when children become crew members
Children who like to come sailing often do so because they feel part of the crew on board - because they are allowed to steer or start the engine, are responsible for preparing the mooring or are given responsibility for keeping the logbook. Of course, it is important not to overload the youngsters with duties. Important: If the little ones no longer feel like doing their job, find the middle ground between encouragement and indulgence.
Dinghy sailing
A commander on a rubber dinghy is better than a sailor on a luxury yacht
For many sailors, a summer cruise on their own yacht is the epitome of freedom and therefore the best time of the year. There is virtually nowhere else where the skipper can do as much as he likes. Many children feel the same way when they can call just any floating vehicle their own. A trip in a dinghy - rowed, sailed or powered by an outboard motor - with anchoring equipment and provisions in a staked-out mini-area is often the unbeatable holiday highlight for the youngsters. There are a wide variety of options, even an Opti can be towed if the conditions are right. Alternatives include surfboards, stand-up paddleboards and model boats.
Games on deck
Even alone in the bay, it doesn't have to be boring on board
The highlight after arrival is going ashore, and the stopover on the hook is no exception. Until then, there's a swim, see above, or games are played that only work at anchor. Catching soap bubbles, for example, which are created at the bow and have to be picked up at the stern; don't forget the rewards. Or catching fenders with the boat hook (secure them first!).
Classic travelling games
There are situations where the crew simply has to persevere. Really?
No. Because even when nothing seems to be going on in terms of entertainment because the going is tough, it's raining or everyone is feeling queasy, there are ways to pass the time with your fellow sailors. These include the classics such as "I see something you don't see", "I'm packing my kitbag" or the good old song sung together. The latter in particular can instantly lift a dampened mood. Jokes told to each other are also suitable. Advanced learners invent chain stories by adding a sentence in turn. If there are commercial ships nearby, the national flags can be guessed. And practising knots is always a good idea.
Beach day
A day on the sandy shore is part of every summer cruise. Turn it into an adventure with just a few tricks
Does your child like to lie alone on a bath towel and read the book you brought with you? Perfect! For everyone else: pack beach games. The frisbee disc can turn hours into minutes. A game of bowls has connected generations. Viking chess is easy to make yourself from beach finds. The latter are also suitable for making all kinds of holiday memories. Collected stones, sorted by size and colour, can be used to create pictures and mosaics. Stones can flit flat across the water and hit the water several times - who can make the highest number? Why not take a kite with you to fly on the beach? Build a large sand sculpture or bury a crew member completely in the sand?
Board games
Even in the age of tablets, the good old board game is far from obsolete. Analogue gaming fun is still very popular
There are numerous board games for all ages on the market. When choosing, it is important that the packaging has a compact format and can be easily stowed away on board, otherwise the boxes will end up in the farthest corner of the back boxes. But it also works with minimal equipment: classics such as City, Country, River, Sink Ships or Yahtzee get by with a pad, pencil and dice cup, and even a whole rainy day can pass in no time. Other popular classics that are suitable for on board are Scrabble, Uno, the various card games, Trivial Pursuit, Monopoly, Risk, The Settlers of Catan and of course the standard collection with Mill, Mikado, Mensch ärgere Dich nicht, Checkers, Chess, Backgammon and more. Colouring books and puzzles are also very popular with children.
