Updates from our Sailing & Windsurfing Programs

Latest Updates (as of September 5)

• Only members with a confirmed reservation for a dinghy, windsurf, kayak, or SUP are allowed to be at Cal Sailing Club at all times.
• If you are unable to make your confirmed reservation, PLEASE cancel on the day of before the club opens (9AM on weekends, noon on weekdays) so others may get the opportunity to enjoy the water. 
• The West Dock is finally back in operation, which will relieve dock crowding. We have increased the dock capacity to 6 dinghies at a time, with the middle dock as an overflow.  
• Dayleaders can require a wetsuit pending wind conditions to protect you from hypothermia.

Dinghy sailing lessons and ratings:

• New members and prospective Dinghy Novices: Dinghy Ground School is offered for a limited number of students every other Saturday from 10am to noon. Reservations required.  Sessions will be announced on the Club announce list.
• Looking to get the Novice or Junior rating? Check the guide on getting these ratings. Senior testers who can help, look here. Info for the Junior rating is now at the same link.
• Novice Fast Track is being offered for members with dinghy sailing experience on some Saturdays. This will be a combined rigging test, on-the-water practices session, and practical test. Sessions will be announced on the Club announce list.

Windsurfing lessons:

• New members and prospective Windsurfing novices: Socially-distant-on-the-water NOVICE WINDSURF LESSONS resume! Reservations required. To gain access to the reservation form you must be a member & complete re-opening test. Kids should sign up for the youth lesson, not the regular novice lessons. Lessons Offered Saturday and Sunday morning at 11AM. Sign up now!
• New windsurf members should note that it make take 2-3 weeks to get into a lesson. We are operating under a limited capacity at present
• Kids windsurfing lessons are now Friday noon to 2pm and Saturday 9am to 11am. Contact Sofi for details.

Kayak and SUPs:

• A limited number of sit-on-top kayaks and stand-up paddleboards (SUPs) are now available for member use. You must have a reservation, as described in the details. No rating is required, but Day Leader approval is. This is a lower-wind activity, so the Day Leader may restrict use to the Novice Area or not allow it at all.
• Information on how to reserve a kayak or an SUP is here.

Other:

• Day Leader/VDL Instructions are available.

Limited Reopening Information

With the approval of the Berkeley Health Dept, CSC is reopening on a limited basis. Access to equipment will be limited on a reservation basis, and members will need to comply with Health Dept directives on social distancing, masks, etc. Here's what you need to know:

• Only members with a confirmed reservation for a dinghy, windsurf, kayak, or SUP are allowed to be at Cal Sailing Club at all times. 
• You must wear a mask at all times while at CSC when not on the water.
• Please wash and sanitize your hands frequently and maintain social distancing (6ft) whenever possible.
  • Member information for use of the club:
    • Dinghy and Windsurf information
    • Keelboat information
    • Kayak and SUP information
    • NOTE: Club common areas are closed. Please do not hang out at the Club.
  • You need to pass an online test on procedures during the reopen period in order to reserve equipment. You can first read the test and then take the test (you need to be logged in to see these).
  • Please, reserve equipment before coming to the club
    • Details about the reservation system for Dinghies and Windsurf boards.
    • Details on how to reserve kayaks and SUPs.
    • Reserve a Dinghy or a Windsurf board. 
    • NOTE: Do not come to the Club if you do not have a reservation.

We are working hard to open the Club more as regulations allow us to do that. We will update the membership here and on the announcement list. Thanks for your support and your patience.

Membership Extensions

Because of the Club close time, we have adjusted membership subscriptions as follows:

• Subscriptions for all currently active members have been extended by 100 days (86 days of shutdown plus a bonus of 2 weeks to compensate for the limited opening)
• Subscriptions which expired during the time the Club was closed have been reactivated with the expiry date extended by 100 days
• This does not apply to Windsurf Locker subscriptions, which will be handled as usual, as members have had access to their lockers when the Club was closed

Our membership software doesn't handle what was described above, so we've had to do it ourselves. Please check your subscription by logging into the website and going to Memberships->My White Card to see your subscription status and expiry date. Report any problems to webmaster@cal-sailing.org.

New Windsurfing Videos

Will Spargur, former Rear Commodore for Windsurf Instruction, has produced a set of videos on learning windsurfing.

New Instructional Video on Rigging a Quest