Blog

March 31, 2020 To: The Members, Boat Owners and Crew of Harbor Sailboats and SailTime San Diego From: Tom Hirsh, President   Dear All,   I have worked for, with, and on behalf of Harbor Sailboats since I was a young man of 24. Now 41 years later, I am much...

Beginning January 1st, 2018, California started phasing in the requirement for boaters to obtain a California Boaters Safety Card for the legal operation of a motorized vessel on state waterways. The phase in process was done by age and as of January 1st, 2020,...

Tacking and gybing a sailboat is among one of the first lessons we teach in our basic sailing course. That said, new sailors tend to make small errors that cause the maneuvers to be difficult and possibly unsafe. Here, we will remind you of a few simple steps and...

Not sure about sailing or just looking for a fun activity? Come join us for our learn to sail clinic where we’ll introduce you to the lifestyle of sailing during a 2-hour on the water experience. Sailors will take the helm, trim the sails, learn how to read the wind,...

Yacht brokers get this question all the time, what will it cost to own this boat? Although this will change depending on where you will keeping the boat, lets briefly go over the 4 cost of boat ownership.   Purchase or Loan While some will pay cash for a boat,...

Here is a very rare charter placement opportunity where the club pays all expenses for three years!    If you have been on the docks the last couple weeks, you’ve likely seen the new Oceanis 31 proudly displayed on the 500 dock. This boat has been...

Congratulations to repeat Harbor Sailboats owners, the Donahue family, for taking delivery of their 2020 Beneteau Oceanis 41.1. The original Nancy Jean, now named Jasmine, will remain in the fleet with new owners. Nancy Jean II is an amazing boat with a very large...

In case you haven’t heard, the new 2019 Capri 22’s are available for rental! The boats are very similar to previous generations but there are some subtle differences… There is now a permanent topping lift made of braided spectra. These are tied from...

Sailing Club Activities It is well established that joining a sailing club can help ensure that you save money, compared to owning your own sailboat or being a public charterer. A sailing club may also provide social sailing opportunities not available to the public....

Welcome to Harbor Sailboats Pre-Owned Yacht Brokerage (Academy Yacht Sales). We specialize is representing clean, late model sailboats to our members and the public. As a license and bonded yacht brokerage, we can assist buyers and sellers in all their boating needs....

Some members have noticed that the Harbor Island West Marina pump out facility now closes at 4pm during the winter and 5pm in the summer. This was put into place by marina staff in order to prevent commercial pump out services from emptying their tanks using the...

There are many indicators we use as sailors to help us navigate the wind. We’re constantly scanning the sails, the tell tails, the mast head fly/wind indicator, the electronics, flags on land, and even other boats. One major but often overlooked indicator...

Boat Show Time! It’s an excuse to ditch work a little early or bring the family down for a fun afternoon looking at all the new products and technologies, but how can you attend a boat show like a pro? Let us explain. Boats shows are a huge deal for the industry...

The New Year is here and that means whale watching! California Gray Whales are now making their annual migration south from Alaska to the warm-water Baja lagoons to give birth and nurse. Their passage is the longest known mammal migration measuring over 12,000 miles...

What is an International Proficiency Certificate and how do i get it? Most Mediterranean and European charter companies require an international proficiency certificate in order to prove a skippers abilities before a Bareboat charter. If you’ve taken your...

Have you always wanted to learn how to sail? Have you also wanted to visit and vacation in San Diego? How about combining the two with a San Diego week-long sailing vacation?! A live-aboard sailing vacation is geared for the sailor who has limited time available but...