Anyone familiar with Tradewinds In SF Bay?

[aqwert5]

I've been lurking for a long time. I'm finally ready to take the plunge and really like the Tradewinds package: $50/mo + a fixed monthly rental charge (i.e. $150 gets you up to 31' boats) gets you unlimited access to your subscribed class of boats.

My main purpose is to take lessons (with my 14yr old son) and go sailing as often as I can.

Math wise it seems like a great deal if you really want time on the water.

The main question I have is: how hard is it to reserve the boat you want when you want it? My expectation is that it should/could be quite hard to find openings for weekends due to their fleet size.

Anybody have any experience with them?

Thanks,
David

[Cal28]

Originally Posted by aqwert5

I've been lurking for a long time. I'm finally ready to take the plunge and really like the Tradewinds package: $50/mo + a fixed monthly rental charge (i.e. $150 gets you up to 31' boats) gets you unlimited access to your subscribed class of boats.

My main purpose is to take lessons (with my 14yr old son) and go sailing as often as I can.

Math wise it seems like a great deal if you really want time on the water.

The main question I have is: how hard is it to reserve the boat you want when you want it? My expectation is that it should/could be quite hard to find openings for weekends due to their fleet size.

Anybody have any experience with them?

Thanks,
David

Sorry ... I don't know anything about Tradewinds but I can highly recommend Cal Sailing Club ... located at Berkeley Marina ... the best deal in the Bay area ... Welcome to CSC! ...

check them out ... and they do have a family package ... which is NOT available on the website ... you purchase it in person ... for $70 a quarter ...

Good luck

[aqwert5]

Thank you for that link. I'll take my son there and see if he'd like to try windsurfing as well.

I've checked a lot of the sailing schools around the bay and I'm getting settled on Tradewinds. From what I can tell, although getting through the certification process (whether it's ASA or USS) gives a good foundation, the learning really happens after you get certified. Without certification I can't rent boats, and without that learning becomes harder (at least learning on my own schedule).

Assuming that, I figure the more time on the water the more "learning" there is to do and Tradewinds seems to fit that niche. It seems that comparing Charter companies/clubs is much easier to do than comparing schools...