Missing the pictures? See the April 2013 eBook!There are roughly 250 bareboats available for rental here in the Greater Bay Area, but the businesses that manage them are not simply rental agencies. Almost all of the boats listed below are offered by sailing schools — usually called 'clubs' — which offer a full spectrum of courses, from basic sailing to coastal cruising and celestial navigation. In most cases, you don't have to be a member of the club to rent a boat, although nonmembers may pay somewhat higher rental prices. Be aware also that the first time you charter with a company you'll probably have to do a 'check-out' with their staff so they'll feel confident that you're not going to run the pride of their fleet into a cruise ship. Getting checked out a few days in advance will save precious charter time. Beyond rental discounts, there's usually added value to club membership such as dockside barbecues; 'social sails', where everyone pitches in a few bucks to cover costs; and charter flotillas to idyllic venues in the Caribbean, South Pacific or elsewhere. If you don't own a boat and/or don't have close friends that are into sailing, joining a club can be a smart move. The friendly ambience of a club creates a low-pressure forum for advancing through the hierarchy of classes. And the natural camaraderie that comes with shared activities on the water often spawns lasting friendships. Chartering a large, fully equipped bareboat in the Bay Area can also help you prepare for future cruising. Once you've taken total responsibility for a good-sized keelboat in Bay waters — including anchoring practice — you'll be able to step aboard a bareboat anywhere with confidence in your abilities, and spare yourself the angst brought on by trying to fake it. Please note: Not listed here — due to space limitations — are university and community sailing programs which offer the use of sailing dinghies and daysailers in conjunction with their instructional programs. For a list of those programs, see www.sailsfbay.org/community.html. As the following list demonstrates, there is a wide variety of sail-it-yourself bareboats available for rent in the Bay Area. Compiled here are listings from the area's principal companies (listed alphabetically). We've attempted to be as up-to-date and comprehensive as possible. We regret any errors or omissions. Afterguard Sailing Club Nautique J/World Modern Sailing School & Club Monterey Bay Sailing OCSC Pacific Yachting/Sailing San Francisco Sailing School & Club Spinnaker Sailing of Redwood City Spinnaker Sailing of San Francisco Sunsail Tradewinds Sailing School & Club NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS Cal Sailing Club Sailing Education Adventures This story was reprinted from the the April 2013 issue of Latitude 38. To order a copy (complete with color photos), use the subscription order form, and specify the 4/13 issue, or just drop us a note with a check for $7 to Latitude 38, Attn: Back Issues, 15 Locust Ave., Mill Valley, CA 94941. Please note: After a couple of years, the actual issue may no longer be available, but we will still be able to make photocopies or PDFs of it. You can also see issues on eBook through our eBooks page. |
||||
|
'Lectronic Latitude |
Download the Magazine |
Crew List & Party Calendar | Letters | Changes in Latitudes | Features Classy Classifieds | Place a Classy Ad | Advertisers' Links | Display Advertising Links | New Stuff | Subscriptions | Distribution | Contact Us | Home |
|||
| The West's Premier Sailing & Marine Magazine. © 2013 Latitude 38 Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved. |