Cal Sailing Club

Fantastic instruction and at the most affordable price. Great community and nothing beats being out on the water.

10 stars. This place changed my life. Once upon a time, I spent my summers in the Bay Area bummed out about the wind and fog, longing for the hot and humid east coast. Then my now-​husband took me to Cal Sailing Club, and before you know it, I was suiting up in a wetsuit, flying across the bay on a dinghy, and looking forward to the fierce summer winds that previously only made me shiver. (Ok, I still don’t like the wind when I’m not sailing, but I try to go sailing often!) I’ve been a member now since 2011, and plan to stay with the club as long as I live in the Bay Area.
Cal Sailing is a really affordable way to learn to sail — at the moment, it’s $ 99/​month (I think $ 75 for students — check the website), or $ 299/​year (again, less for students). You can take as many or as few lessons as you want, and if you’re a slow learner, there’s no need to rush. You may have to wait to take a lesson in the busy summer months, but just get there early, be patient, and have fun chatting with the other members. There are also numerous social events, and I’ve met a lot of new friends here. The club also does Open Houses at least once a month throughout the summer, giving free sailing rides to the public. My only regret is that I never discovered Cal Sailing, or sailing in general, sooner. What was I doing all my years living in Berkeley and not taking advantage of the bay?

BEEEEST PLACE TO GO SAILING!!! Come to the next open house, you will be sold.
Not only is it the most affordable sailing club I have ever been a member of, but it is also filled with lots and lots and LOTS of incredibly nice people. You will feel like you have become part of a community and you will definitely end up making great friends.
The sailing classes are on Mondays, Thursdays and Sundays, and are really good.
You can also practice/​learn windsurfing with greatly skilled teachers.
Do not hesitate for a minute and be sure to come by to see for yourself.

Went there for their open house, it was great. The people were very helpful, and the organization was very smooth. The clubhouse is very nice, and there is a very friendly atmosphere.

CSC is a very good place. I am very excited by the idea of club, that run by enthusiasts as volunteers. I took the lesson elsewhere but decide to get a membership this place this year. In this club, in order for people like me to windsurfing, I will have to taken a test including a open book written part to get a «rating» so I can borrow equipment fit that rating.
The problem is the test which I think has some design flaw. Although the question cover some important topics, the questions are confusing and hard to find in the book. The information in the booklet is also disorganized, with overlapped incomplete entries for one topic. For example, one of the questions asking what is the restriction of junior rating windsurfer, in the book a bulletpoint specially explain this states with underline that it should only be the sailing area and said nothing about allowed wind speed etc. And none of the choice fit what i read. so I guess I need to find the answer elsewhere. If you have a bulletpoint for junior rating restrictions cant you list everything here?
Readers smart as you probably guessed I failed the exam. You may ask why those big fuss about a open book test? Because only after I know I can’t retake the exam at same day. And because I spent time taking the exam I missed the lesson so I can’t windsurf with them today. I argued some of the questions I answered wrong is not safety related and I have windsurfed elsewhere. They respond by asking me the question about the landmarks for sailing region and I can’t answer it. The funning thing is I actually got that question right in the test, I can draw the region on the map but I just didn’t know the landmark. They explained the landmarks are what’s important because those line are imaginary and means nothing when you are on the sea. I do think this is a very good point. But this combine with the fact I answered the question right just a side proof this test is badly designed because it does not serve me to know important information.
Also I think it’s pointless to enforce you take a test another day. The purpose of test is let you know things and this does not serve that. I like the approach of my rock climbing gym better. If you fail the exam you are taught what you did wrong and issued with a temporary license. You can climb that day but you will retake exam the next time you come in. I can’t image windsurfing will be more dangerous than rock climbing. As a result after I drove for one hours and spent another hour do the test, I have nothing to do. Hence the time for this lengthy review.

If you want to sail or windsurf, even if you don’t have much money, this is the place. Even if you don’t sale or windsurf this is the place since they have great people, great Bar-B-Q’s and a great setting at the Berkeley Marina.

I love how the club is mix of old timers and newbies so high on sailing that it’s all you want. Good people, good times, good parties, good resources, good teachers, excellent times!

Super friendly, super chill (but still very safe and learning-​oriented), and very affordable sailing club. Everyone I’ve met has been very helpful, kind, patient, and accommodating. Even though I live in south bay, it’s worth the weekly drive to come out and blast around the bay on dinghies.
It’s also awesome that they have not only the boats and boards, but all the equipment you need to get started if you don’t want to invest in anything yet, or if you don’t even know what you’d want/​need. Living in a fairly small apartment, this is a big plus, especially for wind surf gear. They even have wetsuits!
If you want to learn how to sail or windsurf, this is the place to go. Personally, I wanted to learn after a friend took me out on a dinghy at the UCLA sailing club down in MdR. Before that, I just figured it’d be good to learn as preparation for kite surfing, but I guess I just had this idea in my head that sailboats were for retired rich dudes, which couldn’t be further from the truth! We had a blast in the 15kts of wind, which feels like 50 when you’re on a plane in a tiny boat, inches from the water. Sailing is pretty easy to get into, but very hard to master, though very rewarding throughout the entire learning process.
The SF Bay has some of the best sailing in the world. If you’re at all interested in sailing or windsurfing, you owe it to yourself to come check this place out. They do open-​houses ~monthly in the warmer months where you can come down and see what it’s all about. I feel very lucky to be so close to such a fun club.

CSC gets TWO thumbs up from me!
The boyfriend and I decided on a whim that we wanted to do something fun in Berkeley, and funcheapSF told us about CSC’s monthly Open House where they offer a sailboat ride for free.
FOR FREE? I know what you’re thinking…“What’s the catch?“
You can trust me when I say there truly is no catch (there’s a pun in here somewhere, I just know it) We pulled into a lot, signed a standard waiver and were promptly given life jackets. I was pleasantly surprised that no sign-​ups were needed online or in advance. Then they divided us into two different groups – one for a ride in dinghies and one for bigger, more stable keelboats.
We opted for a dinghy because the line was shorter and the ride turned out to be very stable. Our guide was friendly and even let us take control of the steering. The fact that the weather was very nice and the Blue Angels happened to be up in the sky didn’t hurt either :)
Since my experience with them was so positive, I would definitely consider joining the club as a member in the future when I have some more free time!
SUMMARY: Go to the monthly open house for a free ride, FREE PARKING, & to try something new!

We just joined! It’s a super affordable sailing club — 3 months for $ 99, which gives you access to everything. They have classes and as a member, you have to volunteer. This helps keep everything so affordable. We went windsurfing, but in the winter, I think we’ll take sailing classes. Also, the members are super friendly, helpful, and always willing to help. Nice little community they got going on there. If you’re looking for an affordable way to sail/​windsurf — this is it and if you’re looking for an extracurricular activity cal sailing club is both well priced and has a close knit yet open vibe.

CSC is such a delightful place. One membership fee and a brief safety training and you and yourself in your little wetsuit are out floating (er, surfing) on the bay.
I’ve lived in the East Bay almost my entire life and there was nothing like being ON the bay for the first time.
CSC is also a nice cooperative community full of people who are thrilled to help newbies learn the skills to get on the water. On weekends you can always find people lounging in the sun outside and often people have BBQs or other events.
Definitely the way to go if you want to learn to sail or windsurf and you’ve got some time on your hands to commit to the art!

Today, we took our grandson (15 y. o) for the Open House. It went very well, thanks to a well organized team of volunteers (Don was in charge). They start at 1 pm as announced, the crowd lined up to sign the forms. We came 20 min early, and had 10 people ahead of us. All-​in-​all, i think there were over 50 people. Some kids were 5 y. o., and they put 4– 6 people on the boat with one instructor. Everybody had a life jacket according to the body size. The weather was so warm, heavy jackets were not needed. They made a circle around the bay (20 – 30 min), and everybody had a chance to steer the boat and try the ropes (not sure how they call the process of sail turning). Great experience for kids and grownups!

Disclaimer: I’m dating someone on the Executive Committee.
With that being said, the CSC is one of those hidden Bay Area things that is accessible to everyone. We have a glorious bay in front of us, yet it’s hard enough to fund housing let alone equipment for the water.
CSC is accessible to everyone and at a very affordable price.
It’s possible to learn how to wind surf and sail and you don’t have to invest in the upfront clothing that you will NEED on most days in the water. It gets really cold especially if you land in the water, but it’s REALLY fun!
Great sense of camaraderie at the Club too. Community meals are generally offered on the weekends. (Act fast when you hear the bell). Show up with an impressive 6 pack to share and you see guaranteed to make some friends.

Disclaimer: I’m on the executive committee.
My review is not about our facilities, which are of course excellent and very cheap ;-) but about the vegan and beer aspects.
CSC hasn’t always been entirely vegan friendly, but the cooks in the last year have made real efforts. Of course a good deal of our food comes from Grocery Outlet, which is very cheap, but not always ideal. And the meals we cook for lunch are often not served until middle of the afternoon.
So my advice for vegans is to take your own food (and you can safely forget about the bait shop across the road), and also make your dietary preferences clear to the cooks — or better yet, help out and make sure there’s vegan options. (And get your volunteer hours).
As for beer, there’s no doubt it’s a beer club with a sailing problem. The bait shop again has just stopped selling beer, so bring your own. Grocery Outlet has an OK selection, but you’re better off going to your local store first before you come. And bring it to share of course!

This place rocks. 100 for 3 months or 300 for the whole year, the price can not be beat. I’ve taken advantage of the unlimited classes and rentals by going twice. Everything is volunteer run and on Saturday’s they have food! Just in time for me to come back from my sailing lesson. The weather has been beautiful and I’m very excited to learn more about dinghy sailing from the volunteer instructors. I found everyone to be very nice and it has been an absolutely enjoyable experience so far. I cannot complain and I’m learning a lot very quickly. They have wind-​surfing and kayaking but I can recommend the sailing lessons to anyone who has an interest in this type of stuff. And none of the pretentious BS.

This club is a total gem! Went to an open house, all by myself, on a whim. Learning to sail is definitely on my bucket list — so this «open house» seemed like a great opportunity to get my feet wet (so-​to-​speak — yarrharrharr!).
Parked in the gravel lot, donned my boat shoes & life jacket — and walked to the clubhouse. I saw the line of folks waiting to go out for a sail & hopped on in. After signing a release, I was sent on a dinghy with a trusty volunteer skipper & another fellow who was their to get his feet wet, too. We really didn’t have any wind — but I still had a blast & learned a lot. It was VERY non threatening — a great way to get to learn a bit about sailing.
I actually had a chance to go out again, on a JY15 with a different trusty skipper (and a bit more wind). BOTH skippers were fabulous — but I loved Yuri’s enthusiasm & style of instruction! I am definitely considering joining this club for 3 months to learn more.
I highly recommend this place if you’re interested in sailing — but just not ready to plunk down tons of money into a fancy school. Or even if you’re just CURIOUS about sailing — go to an open house & check it out. They have life jackets to borrow. Everyone is so welcoming & «down to earth.» Really glad I went!

Went during an open house and it was definitely something to experience at least once, if I lived closer I would definitely join their club. Enjoyed the smaller dingy much more than the bigger one. They let you go out on the water with a skipper, would definitely recommend as nice cheap date idea.
Get there early on open house days or you will be waiting in line. ^_^

We went on one of their free open house boat rides (select Sundays) and had a nice sail on the water. Our sailor didn’t teach us much, but we had fun out on the water.
We would recommend going on the early side to avoid long lines.

Stopped in a week ago for the open house event and found a wonderful sailing club hidden in plain sight.
Gorgeous views of SF can be seen from the marina. Membership is $ 99 for 3 months and all the people we met there were really friendly and laidback.
Definitely recommend stopping in at one of their monthly open house events and checking the place out.

2015 Open House Schedule (Yep, the Twenty-​Fifteen Season)
1−4PM
(All Open Houses are on Sundays of the following Dates except April 11^th)
Feb 22
March 22
April 11, Saturday (which coincides with the Berkeley Bay Festival!)
May 17
June 14
July 19
Aug. 16
Sept. 20
Oct. 18
Nov. 1
Bring change of clothes.
Wool is good choice for sailing.
Wearing synthetic clothing keeps you drier than cotton.

***Review for Open House Event Only***
Free sailing rides around the Berkeley Marina for all age 5+
Perfect for families, couples, and thrill-​seeking individuals
Check the website for the select Sundays and don’t forget your sunscreen! (:
Tired, exhausted, and feeling completely brain-​dead, the girls and I had been cooped up studying for days. My wonderful friend Jeanie F. discovered Cal Sailing Club’s open house event through
(online bulletin for free/​cheap local sf events) and suggested we go out for a spontaneous getaway. An afternoon’s worth of sun wouldn’t hurt right?
It was such a thrill! The club event was from 1−4pm on a sunny Sunday afternoon. You sign a waver, put on a life-​jacket, and you’re set to sail with experienced CSC volunteers. The boarding line moved really fast and boats were coming in and out of the port relatively quickly. No long, boring waits! The rides were either on the smaller dinghy (which they said was a more wobbly experience) or the large keelboats. We got lucky and had a whole keelboat to the three of us + our 2 CSC volunteer sailors. The volunteers were super friendly and taught us a lot about sailing.
The experience? One word — AWESOME!
Great view, refreshing experience, and what an amazing stress relief! The whole ride was about 30 minutes for us and I enjoyed every minute of it with the cool breeze. It was no just-​sit-​through-​it kind of ride either. I got to learn how to steer the keelboat for a bit and learned some cool sailing lingo! Every minute of it was action packed. My friends and I had a lot of fun (: