Think Small
Tomorrow, Saturday, February 23, Richmond Yacht Club is inviting anyone interested in trying out sailing on small boats to their well-rehearsed Sail a Small Boat Day. This successful format has introduced thousands of non-sailors to sailing the Bay and has also served as an opportunity for current sailors to try their hand at a variety of different boats. We should mention — it’s free.
RYC has an ideal venue for anyone to try sailing, with one of the largest fleets of small boats in the Bay Area, ample free parking, a free hot-dog lunch and an enthusiastic club membership who love to share sailing with the just-curious to the fully committed.
If you have friends who’ve said they want to try sailing, make sure they check out this event. It’s a pretty simple set-up. Boat owners will be there with their boats, and volunteers will have sign-up sheets and waivers. Not long after you sign up, you’ll be sailing on the Bay.
If you have a lifejacket and wetsuit you should bring them. If you don’t, the club has lifejackets you can borrow. Wear warm, water-resistant clothes and bring a dry change of clothes for afterward. The forecast looks good: perhaps a little cool but no rain and gentle breezes.
Most of the world’s best sailors started small and started young. Global sailing legends like John Kostecki and Paul Cayard spent most of their early sailing years in small boats, including at RYC. That was long before they went on to winning the America’s Cup, the Volvo Ocean Race and an Olympic medal.
However, many others who started sailing small boats at RYC 40, 50 or 60 years ago are still there sailing small boats. It’s an ideal antidote and escape from our land-bound lives and shockingly easy once you take that first step. If you’ve got kids or friends who you think should try sailing, this is the place to do it. If you’re trying to escape from kids and friends this might also be the right answer!
Bay Area author Jack London said, “The small-boat sailor is the real sailor.” If you or anyone you know ever wanted to try sailing, try out small boats, or are just looking for some free Saturday fun, Sail a Small Boat Day at RYC should be high on your list. It starts at 10:30 tomorrow. For more information click here.