I found a «thanks for attending the Women’s Sailing Seminar» in my email among a dozen«Please review your experience with …» emails. And I thought I really should write them a review. Sailing lessons come in a few varieties: 1) free but crowded sails at Berkeley Yacht Club, 2) small boat, tiny lake, battered equipment 3) several hundred dollars for a few hours on the bay or 4) know somebody with a boat. It’s quite hard graduate from the first two options to the last two. This two-day seminar fits nicely in the middle. It’s about $ 150 which is an insanely good deal — you get classroom, on-the-water, and a choice of cruising or racing the second day. The cruising gets you out onto the bay. The bay is wonderful in any boat, but to sail it — with no noisy motor or stink of diesel — is glorious. Just beyond belief how awesome it is. There’s a lot of different types of women in this seminar. Some just like being out on the water and want to learn how to drive the boat. Some need boat care and maintenance skills. Some are competitive and want to trim their sails just so, and use the wind better than the next boat does, or steal his wind — the kind of stuff you’ll want to know when you watch the big boats race. You can learn that here. You’ll also find serious athletes and adventurers. One of them gave a seminar this year on night sailing, which was amazing. She talked about the watches and shifts, how her first mate accidentally bumped into a sleeping whale, and how they frantically steered to get out of the way of a huge ship coming down at them, which turned out to be a very bright rising star. I know I’m taking a risk here — there might be huge crowds next year at the women’s sailing seminar if I tell the whole world about it — but the women who make this seminar really deserve a shout-out. I’ll be there in October to sail with them.
Stella N.
Classificação do local: 5 Novato, CA
I second Dave’s review. This yacht club is a wonderful place to call home as a sailor. It is full of wonderful, friendly and fun people that care about sailing. I can’t say enough about the annual Women’s Sailing Seminar. I attended twice before joining and if you are woman looking to get comfortable on the water and learn to sail, check it out. It’s a must. This club is very active and always has something going on. If you are looking for a casual and comfortable yacht club this is the place.
Dave B.
Classificação do local: 5 Alameda, CA
I’m a member of IYC, and am giving it 5 stars while realizing that NO yacht club can be the right one for everybody. But IYC is very friendly and open, really active in racing and cruising, has a large(although not opulent) clubhouse, and is among the least expensive YC’s in the Bay Area that have actual physical facilities.(Being an all-volunteer club keeps costs down.) I also give IYC big points for the annual Women’s Sailing Seminar that’s been going now for nearly two decades and is a great event every year.
