Looking for Good Sailing Courses in Northern California Or?

[frediver]

My 1st post after lurking for a few months.
The Basics,
We are in Northern Cal. and starting at Square 1.
I am in a position that requires me to dive in the deep end to reach my goals.
Like many my goal is to sail far but have little real knowledge.
The current plan is to enroll is a dingy class at the local lake in the spring with my
grandson (8yrs) but what and where after that is my real question.
Summer has my nephew (40) wanting to set sail from the Texas gulf coast in a
30ft something and learn on the fly, he has a bit more experience than I do but not much.
I have decided that to get where I think I want to be I will need to enroll in classes
of some sort after a bit of time on the lake.
I am at a loss on how to evaluate a sailing school and if I should consider one or two different schools in different parts of the country. ie. Basic here and more advanced
there, dingy & 101 here?, 102-3-4 there etc.

I have a basic distrust of Schools stemming from my experience in the recreational diving "industry". The Short version is a Certification Agency does not make a good instructor/school it is really the other way round.
With all the above; any advice on schools in the S.F. Bay Area? Should I consider starting here and finishing in So.Cal or Florida with a liveaboard fastrac type arrangement, who, where ?
I have read most of the threads for the past year that look like they relate but not
for much Northern Cal.

Thanks

[Dennis.G]

Yes, learn to sail in a dinghy. And I mean a one-person type boat to start in. Join a club if you can.

Later, consider some of these guys: California Sailing Schools | Learn to Sail with American Sailing Association

[barnaclejim]

Ahoy there! Olympic circle sailing club and school in Berkeley is the best in the Bay. I have chartered and sailed with them and known many folks who have recieved certification with them. Great people, good boats and lots of great classes and lectures. Go to one of their Wed night BBQs and meet them, I think you will find them top notch. If you learn to sail in the SF Bay and still like it you will be a sailor. Fair winds. Jim

[LTDsailing]

I agree that learning the basics in a dinghy is the best way to start. I have always heard good things about Olympic Circle also.


It is always going to come down to the instructor in the end. I would also suggest looking for independent reviews - if you are interested in learning in the warm waters of the Caribbean - come check us out! You can find our reviews on Trip Advisor.

[HappyMdRSailor]

Join a club
Do ASA
Get a boat

[fstbttms]

Originally Posted by barnaclejim

Ahoy there! Olympic circle sailing club and school in Berkeley is the best in the Bay. I have chartered and sailed with them and known many folks who have recieved certification with them. Great people, good boats and lots of great classes and lectures. Go to one of their Wed night BBQs and meet them, I think you will find them top notch. If you learn to sail in the SF Bay and still like it you will be a sailor. Fair winds. Jim

I have taken courses at three different Bay Area sailing schools. OCSC (formerly Olympic Circle Sailing Club) is hands down the best of them.

OCSC Sailing School | Learn to Sail - San Francisco Bay Area | Sailing Lessons | California Sailing Club

[HappyMdRSailor]

OBTW... Welcome to CF....

We lost our manners!

[gamayun]

Once you learn to sail the bay, get one of those courses that will take you offshore, perhaps a trip to Drakes Bay or down to Half Moon Bay. Sailing SF Bay can be huge, but there's nothing like adding some significant swell into the mix to get a real feel for the open ocean. That said, the Pacific is completely different from the Gulf of Mexico, where choppy, erratic waves are the norm and where 60 mph, 30-minute thunderstorms will sneak up on you, if you're not paying attention.

Ah yes....and Welcome