Any experience with sailing schools in the Santa Cruz, California area?

[michaelratinter]

Take a look at Modern Sailing in Sausalito.

[theerwagen]

For Santa Cruz, very different that San Francisco, probably nicer, easier. Try Pacificsail.com Contact Marc Kraft there. They have a great program, I went through several of their courses. They have a good fleet of boats as well. Also hit the Crow's Nest across the Santa Cruz harbor, upper deck, great views and drinks apps!

[meanders]

My two cents....

Consider making a vacation-away out of that 'learn to sail' experience. Colgate, a mostly East Coast sailing school, does a bunch of week-long courses, always in comfortable and slightly exotic settings. (Plus, he's a fantastic writer.). I'm on the Gulf Coast of Florida right now, halfway into a racing course, and ... it's eager people and glorious surroundings and sympathetic coaches and a glimpse into a completely different lifestyle -- I won't ever sail in these grounds, I expect, but a week's immersion makes me feel like ... I could *do* this.

And you bond with the people on your boat. (It's mostly singles or families.)

You don't need to learn only in your own sailing grounds, in other words.

-- Eric, from Seattle

[Santacruzen]

I'm normally just a reader, not a poster, but I live here in Santa Cruz and went through the ASA program here locally so can give you the skinny on learning on the Monterey Bay.

Pacific Yachting in SC is a very professional outfit that has been there many years and works hard to keep the fleet current and in good repair. Marc Kraft was the proprietor when I did my stint some time back. Sailing from the SC small craft harbor and the boat overnights are a blast as the sailing affords postcard type views of the boardwalk (roller coaster) or a pleasant refuge in Capitola if things start to kick up. Plenty of options for dining too, either at the Harbor or a short Uber / walk. You can't go wrong. I actually took the certifications consecutively, up through Bareboat with my wife and two younger boys (10 & 12 at the time).

Another good option is Monterey Sailing (in Monterey at Wharf 2). A much more laid back scenario with a wonderful Skipper, Capt. Dutch Meyer. Not sure he's still around but if so I'd try and book with him direct if you want a no pressure/ no exam cram scenario. The views and evening scenarios are crazy too with Cannery Row and all that Monterey has to offer (aquarium etc.). Ask to learn on Pegasus. She's actually my prior sailboat I sold to the school and is a very well founded Celestial 32, with a tiller helm. So much fun and my wife still wishes we kept her.

If neither of these options "hook you" you may want to check out Afterward Sailing Academy in Alameda. Mary, the owner, actually is the Instructor for Certifying ASA school instructors, so is basically "yoda". I haven't chatted with her in years nor kept up with her fleet, but she is a terrific person and I'm confident would be a great choice too if you want to grab some of the SF sailing venues.

Hope the helps. Fair winds.

TS

[snort]

You may have a good choice in your own backyard:
https://www2.humboldt.edu/centeracti...vanced-sailing

Hard to beat the prices, but I don't know if they offer certificates or not.

[ozdigennaro]

In Santa Cruz, I recommend
ASA Sailing School | Skippered Charters | Teambuilding | Pacific Sail Santa Cruz

I took the course years ago, and it's the same group. You can't go wrong.
Oz

[T_Cat]

Originally Posted by T_Cat

I went with http://www.deltasailingschool.com/ for my ASA101 cert.
Captain Allen and team are awesome.
It is a small school, classroom is on the dock. Crew was very professional and the delta is a great place to learn.

Russ

Just a couple of picture of Delta Sailing for MikeCim209

[Nelson3452]

I got my ASA 101 thru 104 certification through Pacific Sailing in Santa Cruz. Marc Craft and his staff were great and did a thorough job of training and education of sailing, plus boat systems operations and maintenance. We also spent significant time learning to maneuver the boat under power, docking and negotiating the fairways which was very helpful.

They offered a straight 8-day liveaboard class or separate weekends. The program was cost-effective and professional.

Good luck!

[Don C L]

I second Steady's advice, Club Nautique in the Bay. I have a good old friend who I grew up with, he taught there for many years and was school director there as well. They know their stuff.

[wsmac]

Originally Posted by snort

You may have a good choice in your own backyard:
https://www2.humboldt.edu/centeracti...vanced-sailing

Hard to beat the prices, but I don't know if they offer certificates or not.

hahaha... they're the ones I've been taking classes with.
Finishing up soon.
It's been good but nothing like what the schools mentioned here are offering.

Can't really take off to another state as was suggested earlier... but a drive down south is doable.
I'll look into the schools in the Bay Area and Santa Cruz/Monterey area.

Now if only our roads would quit being taken out by mud/rock/landslides... maybe I could get out of here for one of those schools! LOL

[snort]

Well, I'll just tell you my experience (YMMV). Years ago I took classes at Mission Bay Aquatic Center in San Diego, and despite the fact (or maybe because of it) that all the instructors were very young, these were the best classes I've ever had. Up the road to the next county, at a perhaps more prestigious operation, with bigger boats, etc...I frigging hated it. The 20-somethings, who had learned from a very early age, were better sailors, more knowledgeable, more patient, and less drunk.
Morro Bay Yacht Club was similar to Mission Bay in that respect.
At any rate, I think the key is finding someone who knows their way around a boat and is good at conveying needed knowledge. I just don't buy into "you get what you pay for" when it comes to "sailing schools". Just one opinion.