We are thinking of joining one and need feedback on what you like and dislike about yours. We have an 11year old son who sails, so a Jr. sailing program is a must. Price is also a factor. Cash is not so abundant these day's.
Yacht Clubs on the Oakland Estuary
- Thread starter Patrick17430
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Not too many choices there, pk. Island Yacht Club and Oakland Yacht Club are for "seniors." The Encinal is the one with the junior sailing program, those are the boats you dodge every weekend and evening, but they are not inexpensive. Great club, though.
I belong to Oakland Yacht Club. As Stu says, it may be more toward the senior end of the scale. It wasn't when my wife and I joined 25 years ago, but somehow we became older in the process. And that's not me in my avatar.. I am following in the boat behind..I'm still much younger than Cecil was in 1985.
Encinal does have a very active juniors program which I think is a really good idea as it may create future members down the road which will keep the club sustainable. They also have a nice swimming pool.
I think a lot of the clubs in the area are starting to suffer from declining enrollment and interest in the activities be they boating related or social.
Aeolian Yacht Club is down the estuary from you past all but the last bridge going over to Bay Farm Island. If you plan on keeping your boat where it is, then the bridges won't pose an issue. I don't know about a junior sailing program, but their dues are a lot lower than the others. I think they have waived the initiation fee for new members. That club is unique...it is very old with lots of history and photographs of the estuary and like clubs of the past they have a workshop area and a dighny shed with tools for those do it yourself if you are into that kind of thing. It is more of a voluteer run club without the expenses associated with a full time paid staff like OYC and EYC. We have had and still have some members that are belong to both OYC and Aoelian. My friend Ernie just passed away a couple of years ago was a member for 80 years He started as a junior. He told me once that whenever anyone got a new boat on the bay, they'd go look at it! There must be a million boats on the bay now. I don't think we can do that any more.
I believe that Alameda Yacht Club in the Fortman Marina just up from you towards the bay is also a volunteer run club. I thought that Island Yacht Club over at Svendson's closed up, but I am not sure. There was a Metropolitan YC too, but I don't know where that is. Ballena Bay also has a YC but it is on the other side of Alameda. I've never been there, but we have two members in our club that belong to both.
I think you should visit each on on a Saturday night and see what they offer that would suit your desires. There is no rush, and all welcome visitors. Most also have websites now so you can start there with your research. You may be able to join the least expensive (to you) club and with the reciprocal agreements between all of them, still visit the rest and go on cruise outs or social events that all seem to have once a month. You might also find that if you are a member of one yacht club, you can place your kids in the Encinal Juniors program for a small fee. That would only be for the few months a year when they are active.
Best of luck and I hope you are enjoying your opportunity to sail out here.
Allan
"Alchemie" H34
OYC
Encinal does have a very active juniors program which I think is a really good idea as it may create future members down the road which will keep the club sustainable. They also have a nice swimming pool.
I think a lot of the clubs in the area are starting to suffer from declining enrollment and interest in the activities be they boating related or social.
Aeolian Yacht Club is down the estuary from you past all but the last bridge going over to Bay Farm Island. If you plan on keeping your boat where it is, then the bridges won't pose an issue. I don't know about a junior sailing program, but their dues are a lot lower than the others. I think they have waived the initiation fee for new members. That club is unique...it is very old with lots of history and photographs of the estuary and like clubs of the past they have a workshop area and a dighny shed with tools for those do it yourself if you are into that kind of thing. It is more of a voluteer run club without the expenses associated with a full time paid staff like OYC and EYC. We have had and still have some members that are belong to both OYC and Aoelian. My friend Ernie just passed away a couple of years ago was a member for 80 years He started as a junior. He told me once that whenever anyone got a new boat on the bay, they'd go look at it! There must be a million boats on the bay now. I don't think we can do that any more.
I believe that Alameda Yacht Club in the Fortman Marina just up from you towards the bay is also a volunteer run club. I thought that Island Yacht Club over at Svendson's closed up, but I am not sure. There was a Metropolitan YC too, but I don't know where that is. Ballena Bay also has a YC but it is on the other side of Alameda. I've never been there, but we have two members in our club that belong to both.
I think you should visit each on on a Saturday night and see what they offer that would suit your desires. There is no rush, and all welcome visitors. Most also have websites now so you can start there with your research. You may be able to join the least expensive (to you) club and with the reciprocal agreements between all of them, still visit the rest and go on cruise outs or social events that all seem to have once a month. You might also find that if you are a member of one yacht club, you can place your kids in the Encinal Juniors program for a small fee. That would only be for the few months a year when they are active.
Best of luck and I hope you are enjoying your opportunity to sail out here.
Allan
"Alchemie" H34
OYC
What are you wanting to get out of a club? I joined another club on the bay a year ago, I visited two or three others in my neighborhood but fell in love with the one I joined, and am up to my ears in volunteer participation.
Some clubs seem to be drinking clubs with a boating problem, even having T-shirts to that effect. Others are very active on the water, very boating focussed. Many are on hard times because they lack the recruiting attitude.
Then there are the facilities, do you want just a building to hang out at? Do you need workshop space, what kind of social aspects are you looking at. An all volunteer club like Aeolian will provide plenty of camaraderie during the club maintenance work days.
Should the club have its own marina, ie you pay your slip fees to the club, or is just being at the marina OK? Most clubs rent their property, leaving them in the lurch when marina management decides someones can pay a higher rent.
If you are keeping your boat there, how far is it to sailing grounds.
A paper club such as the Islander 36 group has certain benefits if you own that particular boat, or Master Mariners if you love the look and feel of wood.
If recips are important to your desire, be sure the club participates, I understand not all do.
Definitely visit every club in your geographic area you might be interested. Go on dinner nights, and maybe a special event. The culture of every club is unique.
Good Luck
Some clubs seem to be drinking clubs with a boating problem, even having T-shirts to that effect. Others are very active on the water, very boating focussed. Many are on hard times because they lack the recruiting attitude.
Then there are the facilities, do you want just a building to hang out at? Do you need workshop space, what kind of social aspects are you looking at. An all volunteer club like Aeolian will provide plenty of camaraderie during the club maintenance work days.
Should the club have its own marina, ie you pay your slip fees to the club, or is just being at the marina OK? Most clubs rent their property, leaving them in the lurch when marina management decides someones can pay a higher rent.
If you are keeping your boat there, how far is it to sailing grounds.
A paper club such as the Islander 36 group has certain benefits if you own that particular boat, or Master Mariners if you love the look and feel of wood.
If recips are important to your desire, be sure the club participates, I understand not all do.
Definitely visit every club in your geographic area you might be interested. Go on dinner nights, and maybe a special event. The culture of every club is unique.
Good Luck
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