There are lots of training dinghies that are said to be for kids–that holy grail of trainers that fall in the elusive area between an Optimist and a Laser or 420–that are really for their parents. Sure, parents tell themselves they’re buying it for the kids (or the whole family), but when it comes down to it, they really picture themselves planing along. Then they get the dinghy home, climb in with their son or daughter (or, god forbid, both), and somehow it’s just not as exciting as it looked in the pictures.

There won’t be that temptation with the O’pen Bic. Sure it looks like a blast in the photos, but once you see it in person, any normal-sized adult will realize this boat is not one to fight the kids for. At 9 feet long, the high-tech plastic (technically thermoformed polyethylene) hull is nearly flat—great for planing but not great for cramming in with the family. The cockpit is entirely self-draining and convenient built-in handholds make the 42-pound hull a cinch to carry. Shaped foils add to the performance of this little speedster.

Perhaps the best thing about the O’pen Bic is the fact that it steps up with a growing sailor. The hull works with an Optimist rig, allowing young sailors to slowly transition to the boat so they get comfortable with it before they move onto the next stage in the boat’s progression. Once sailors have mastered the Opti-rig set-up, the O’pen fiberglass and epoxy mast and aluminum boom with a windsurferlike sail steps up the fun another notch. In fact, the only “problem” kids might find with this set-up is that they find themselves having so much fun they won’t want to move onto Lasers and 420s.

With a class association in the works, the O’pen Bic could be around for awhile. But parents, please, let the kids have the fun.