All classes begin at 9:30 am in our offices. In San Francisco, our office is right in front of the ‘Yacht Brokers Building.’ It is the large barge there in slip S1. In San Diego, we are upstairs, right over the Harbormasters Office. In Puerto Vallarta, our office is in the Paradise Village resort, at the head of A-Dock, next door to the Harbormaster. Visit here for addresses and directions.
Sailing in San Francisco Bay is an adventure like no other. Beautiful landscapes surround an exceptional sailing venue. Part of the appeal of San Francisco Bay is the dramatic variety of conditions that we can expect to encounter on any given day.
With this in mind, we advise sailors to some prepared for a range of conditions in your sailing lessons. Layered clothing is the best way to accomplish this! While shorts and a T-shirt will suffice for the South Bay and are perfect for when we are working hard on those downwind legs, you will probably want a jacket, long pants, and/or wind breaker (or foul weather gear) if the wind chill kicks in. Thanks to our sailing gear partner Atlantis, we have foul weather gear that you can borrow if you don’t have your own.
Light-soled, closed-toe shoes (that won’t leave marks on the decks) are mandatory. Sailing gloves are a good idea, especially for the longer classes. Thanks to Stohlquist and Svendsen’s Marine, we have great lifejackets for everyone to wear, but if you already own one that you are comfortable wearing, feel free to bring it along.
The climate in San Diego is almost ideal for sailing and the seasonal changes are mild. San Diego Bay provides a perfect environment for training and spectacular scenery.
Layerd clothing is recommended. An outer layer of a light jacket that can break the wind is usually sufficient. On some winter days you might want a bit more, and in the summers a bit less…
Light-soled, closed-toe shoes (that won’t leave marks on the decks) are mandatory. Sailing gloves are a good idea, especially for the longer classes. We have lifejackets for everyone to wear, but if you already own one that you are comfortable wearing, feel free to bring it along.
Puerto Vallarta and the Banderas Bay region is known for the wonderfully warm sailing conditions which prevail on a regular basis. So when packing for Puerto Vallarta, think sun protection during your sailing courses.
While a shorts and a T-shirt will almost always suffice, the fair-skinned sailor might want long-sleeved, light-weight clothing (and clothing should have UV protective qualities).
Hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and extra water/drinks are a must. Light-soled shoes are mandatory, and they should be of the closed-toe variety. We have lifejackets for everyone, but if you already have one you are you are comfortable in, feel free to bring it along (but if you are bringing the inflatable type, check with your airline regarding their current regulations!).
Typically, we plan on spending about between one and one-and-a-half hours each morning in a classroom environment. But we are firm believers that being a competent sailor depends on lots of real world experience, so we will hasten to wrap up the talking early so that we can go SAILING! We attempt to finish our discussions and lectures by 10:30am, then head out to the boats and sail for the rest of the day. We strive to be back at the dock around 4:30 pm, and all wrapped up by about 5pm each day.
Please plan on eating lunch on the water each day. You may bring a lunch, or get one from a local delis/cafe. We’ll take a brief break after lecture and before sailing which can be used to order some food…
Non-marking shoes only, please.
An outer layer which breaks the wind can be nice
PLEASE avoid sunscreen with Avobenzone, aka Parasol 1789… it will turn our decks (and your clothes) orange. A cord for the sunglasses is a good idea
Not required, but might be good for the hands
Stay hydrated on the water
Bring one with you, or we will give you time after the classroom session to pick one up at a neighboring deli.
We have one for you, but if you have one you are comfortable in, please feel free to bring it.
Especially for the racers
