Exploring Alameda’s Open House Club Crawl, Part 1

A 6.5-mile-long island deeply embedded in the Bay Area metropolis, Alameda is well positioned to show off its sailing chops. The eight-club Alameda Yacht Club Community organized an island-wide open house on September 16.

Aeolian Yacht Club

The first club on our itinerary was Aeolian Yacht Club on the southeast side, right next to the Bay Farm Bridge (we missed the left turn and ended up over the bridge and into Oakland Airport territory). We started there because Aeolian was the only one with morning hours, offering coffee, fruit and pastries. We received a thorough tour. Larry Knight built the club in 1909, and it currently has 199 members. Their docks can accept up to nine liveaboards (per the BCDC).

The club includes rowers, paddlers, powerboaters, sailors, and Sea Scout Ship 9. The bar, upstairs, overlooks the harbor and includes a shuffleboard table. Downstairs, a pool table resides in a beautiful room of its own undergoing restoration. Potlucks, bingo games, bar nights and club races are regular activities. The initiation fee is $450, and quarterly dues are $137.81. Our tour guide, Kim Arrivee, called it “a working man’s yacht club.”

In order to get out to the South Bay, Aeolian YC sailors request a simultaneous opening of two bridges — the Bay Farm vehicle bridge and the San Leandro Bay Bike Bridge — then motor out a narrow but short channel. Turn the other way, and you’re on kayak-friendly San Leandro Bay.

Ballena Bay Yacht Club

Before crossing the island to Alameda’s northeast shore, we circled around to the west and Ballena Bay YC, situated in Safe Harbor Ballena Isle Marina on the South Bay. (If you are seeking a slip on San Francisco Bay, this marina appeared to have plenty of open berths.) The marina includes a community garden with artsy little nooks and a Sea Scout Ship. Neighboring businesses in the shoreside complex include a store, restaurants and Club Nautique.

Founded in 1968 when the marina was brand new, BBYC has 60 members, with a goal of 90-100. About 25 are boat owners. The club interior has been beautifully updated, and the galley is currently undergoing renovation. They have a pool table and darts, and the bar is open Friday-Sunday, 5-9 p.m. Dues are $70-$80/month, plus a volunteer commitment.

Island Yacht Club

We drove across the island, parked the car at Grand Marina, visited Blue Pelican and Mosley’s Café, then walked to the remaining clubs. A short stroll to Alameda Marina past shiny new condos found Island YC set up in a pop-up tent and serving lunch in the parking lot. When Alameda Marina started their development project, they tore down the old IYC clubhouse, but the now-paper club is going strong, hosting racing, daysailing, socials and the long-running Women’s Sailing Seminar.

The club, founded in 1970, has about 250 members. IYC is the best bargain on the Bay. With no clubhouse to pay for, they have no initiation fee and the dues are just $100. That’s not per month — that’s per year! They hold many of their shoreside activities and post-race gatherings at the Boathouse Tavern, across Clement Street from Alameda Marina, and some at Alameda YC.

Alameda Yacht Club

Speaking of Alameda YC, that was our next stop. Located in Fortman Marina next to the Marina Cove Waterfront Park, AYC has a big deck overlooking Fortman Basin. Members get a key to the clubhouse; it has an honor bar. They offer Wednesday and Friday dinners attended by up to 50 people each week. Founded in 1985, this all-volunteer club has 80 members and charges an initiation fee of $200 and monthly dues of $60.

We’ve taken up a lot of page space just visiting half of the clubs, so we’ll share Part 2 of this tour in ‘Lectronic Latitude next Monday.