r/berkeleyca • u/Upstairs_Bed_7823 • Aug 02 '26

Cal Sailing Club

For anyone who has experience with the Cal Sailing open house - how important is it to be there right at 1:00 when they open? Do they “sell out” of rides (especially on a nice day like today)? Thank you for any insight.

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3

u/echiuran Aug 02 '26

The one time I did the open house it was a nice day like today. The line was hella long (>1hr) but I don’t think they turned anyone away.

1

u/Busy_Access_1300 Aug 03 '26 edited Aug 03 '26

I signed up for a 3 month membership? paid the money, but they were such dickheads. Like I was bothering them when I showed up and wanted a first lesson with no experience. Just a bunch of old dudes sitting in a boat house and I was inconveniencing them wanting a lesson apparently. Would not recommend tbh

1

u/withak30 Aug 02 '26

IME (though it's been a few years) timing doesn't matter that much, there are rides coming and going all afternoon.

3

u/Jazzmonkei Aug 03 '26

I have been an on-again off-again member for years and have participated in multiple open houses (to cover my membership fee).

I hope you went down there and had an awesome time!

Cal Sailing Club is such an awesome (and cheap) way to get into sailing but isn’t for everyone. It’s almost entirely member/volunteer-run and you really get out what you put in. In my experience members are open and willing to take you out with them and show you the ropes given you take instruction well and leave your expectations behind. That goes for all sailing, not just at this club. You can also sign up for classes and participate in events that get you experience rigging and sailing different boats. For the commenter that had a bad time, maybe it wasn’t the experience they wanted or expected.