Hands-On Sailing Experience
Could Sailing be your new passion? Have dreams of sailing someday - give it a try.
Join a day to pull lines and feel the wind on your face and maybe take the helm for a bit.
Let us take you out for a day of discovery and adventure for a fun experience as an active sailor. Our expert sailors and instructors lead the day on the water. No tests, no stress - simply sail. Slide through the water powered only by the wind in your sails. You might just love it.
1 Full Day (9:30 - 4:30)
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1/2 day (12:30-4:30)
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Purchase your adventure sail below and then contact us minimum of a 1 week in advance of the date you'd like to sail. Not a skippered charter, you will be a participant. Need 2 participants to schedule. Can be on a weekday but best if Fri and Sat. Need 2 aboard to schedule.
Go for a Sail. It's the perfect way to find out if sailing is next for you. Sailing experiences are never exactly the same twice. Just going sailing with periods of activity and those of relaxation experiencing the sites and sounds of being under sail is a wonderful place to start. If you know, or remember from a past experience, that you love to sail but want to learn with someone who has never tried it, this might be the perfect first step for them to join in the excitement about sailing.
The full or half day option are both active sailing, not simply going for a ride. We do offer skippered charters for those who prefer start out as passengers to see the sites and action
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If you know will love it, can get started learning right away. No experience necessary. Try our 2 day Intro to Sailing-BK1, or get a solid start in a 4+ day combining BK1 with ASA 101
Find a date that works for you
Call 510-535-1954
Before the Course
Look at the weather for your sailing day. Dress in layers for that weather in comfortable clothes (think hiking), sunscreen, sunglasses, hat and wear flat, non-skid shoes.
Bring water and something to snack on or for lunch :).
What to expect
Schedule and Crew:
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Meet at Afterguard Sailing Academy, 1285 Embarcadero (Oakland CA 94606)
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This is sailing experience is spent mostly aboard the boat sailing local waters.
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This is not a course. No written exams at the conclusion to see what you learned.
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There could be up to 6 participants per boat, with 1 skipper or instructor
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What Boats are Used:
In this experience, we may sail on any of our boats 23'-46' from our fleet depending on the weather, group size and yacht availability. The larger the group, the larger the boat we can use. Can ask if you have a preference. Expect to have fun whichever boat we use.
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More about what to wear:
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Layers! Look up the weather for that day. Dress in layers according to the weather predictions. Vests are a good under/over layer. Use a base layer per the weather, T-shirt to long sleeved, add up to a wind-breaker. If rainy - a waterproof over layer for top and bottom will keep it fun.
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Footwear: Soft soled shoes for traction on the deck. Non-marking required. No bare-feet, open toed or flip-flops. Broken toes are painful and your responsibility. This is a sincere warning.
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Headware: Recommend a brimmed hat with a keeper that will not blow off your head, when on the water. If cold - a warm hat or perhaps ear covering headband.
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Hands: Garden gloves with rubberized palms with clipped finger tips are a plus. If cold warm gloves help. If have sailing gloves, bring them. Work-out or biking gloves fingers are too short. Only want to expose the first joint in your fingers.
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What else to bring:
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If you bring a refillable water bottle, please make sure you take it with you at the end of your sail. Next to sunglasses, they are the most numerous item in our Lost&Found pile!
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Keepers for glasses and hats can save you lots of money.
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Additional info:
There are bathrooms at our facility and on the boats. Please use the 'head' (bathroom on shore before leaving and have your sailing leader show all how to use the 'head ' aboard the boat, before leaving the docks!
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Where will you sail?
This depends on the weather and wind. You will explore the Oakland estuary and might get as far as the Bay Bridge or beyond on a perfect day with the right currents and winds. We tend to stick to calmer waters and less 'sporty' sailing during these fun sail days.
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Our goal is for you to enjoy yourself enough to want to come back for more. We offer a full array of sailing classes to become proficient and confident in sailing. After passing the foundation or mid-level courses you can independently rent a boat or sail.