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. Harbor Sailboats, for example, offers exclusive Members Only Club Activities that cultivate member-to-member relationships and provide opportunities for growth in seamanship and boat handling all year round. Sailing club activities can include group sails, clinics, all female events, mixers, races, and even flotillas. In this blog, we will dive into these different types of sailing club activities that you can expect from most organizations, highlight the benefits of each, and then give a comprehensive list of what Harbor Sailboats will be offering to its members in 2019!
Group Sails – Often the most inclusive sailing club activity, group sails offer opportunities for members of all skill levels and their families to climb aboard club boats with professional licensed captains and enjoy the water in a stress-free social setting. Group boats may be organized through a sailing club for Whale Watching or sunset sails and give club members exposure to different boats they may not be qualified to take out on their own and expertise of professional captains for the duration.
Clinics – In an effort to continually improve and enrich the sailing experiences of members, clubs will host clinics and focus on sailing fundamentals like docking and anchoring. In small group settings, instructors reinforce the specified sailing concept and give each participant hands-on experience practicing the skill. These are usually 2-5 hours in length, depending on the clinic content.
All Female Events – The sailing community is predominantly comprised of male sailors and can often be intimidating to women interested in the sport. All-female events allow women sailors to meet each other, learn together, and sail together in a non-threatening and supportive environment. Some clubs even have dedicated groups that encourage women to get out on the water together on a regular basis.
Mixers – Sailing clubs may host mixers for members to provide a forum for like-minded individuals to mingle in a social setting off the water. This is where previously disengaged members and new members alike can “plug in” to their club and find new sailing partners and just have a good time.
Races – Sailing races, also called “regattas”, are comprised of multiple crewed boats in direct competition of one another. The set course is usually marked by buoys and some sort of officiating crew will proctor the race. Clubs can host fun, lightly competitive, regattas to mark the beginning of a certain season and Clubs can also host and participate in highly competitive regattas that require a highly skilled crew and specialty sailboats. The types of boats that race and skill level necessary to compete vary greatly but usually club staff are helpful getting interested members into programs they will be successful and suited for.
Flotillas – Just a fancy term for “a group of boats sailing together”, a few components of a flotilla are:
- An exotic sailing destination
- A group of sailboats
- A group of like-minded sailors to crew those boats
Sailing clubs put together flotillas in places like the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, and the South Pacific in hopes of introducing members to international sailing in a stress-free way; the club does all the planning, organizing, and handles most of the logistical headaches involved in international travel which allows club members to just enjoy!
Harbor Sailboats is a huge proponent of Sailing Club Activities. With over 1,000 members, activities like the ones listed above help individuals get the most out of their memberships and stay involved in club happenings. Check out what Harbor Sailboats is offering to its members this year and please give us a call if anything peaks your interest!
2019 Member Activities for Harbor Sailboats
Whale Watching:
- Saturday, February 16th, 2019 – 11:00am-3:00pm
- 6 spots available! $195.00 + port fee
- Aboard our Oceanis 45’!
Anchoring Clinic:
- Saturday, March 9th, 2019 – 10:00am-2:00pm
- 6 spots available! $105.00 + port fee
- Aboard our 2018 Oceanis 31’!
Race Clinic:
- Saturday, March 23rd, 2019 – 11:00am-4:00pm
- 12-14 spots available! $95.00 + port fee
- Aboard a Capri 22’
Flotilla – TAHITI:
- April, 2019 *SOLD OUT*
Spring Race Series:
- Every Tuesday from April 2nd-May 21st
- Capri 22’ One Design racing
Opening Day Regatta:
- Saturday, April 6th, 2019 – 11:00 am start time
- All Club Members that rent a boat and participate in the Regatta will receive 20% off their charter!
- Hosted BBQ on the dock after the race. 1st, 2nd & 3rd place will receive awards!
Opening Day Regatta Group Boat:
- Saturday, April 6th, 2019 – 10:00am-2:00pm
- 6 spot available! $125.00 + port fee
- Aboard our Oceanis 34’!
Lady Mariners Dual Helm Event:
- Saturday, April 27th, 2019
- 12:00pm-4:00pm
- 12 spots available!
- $195.00 + port fee
- Aboard 2 of our Oceanis 35’s!
Summer Race Series:
- Every Tuesday from May 28th-July 23rd (no July 2nd)
Summer “Sailstice” Club Potluck/Mixer:
- Saturday, June 22nd, 2019 – 3:00pm-7:00pm (on the Deli Deck)
- Celebrate the longest day of the year with your fellow Harbor Sailboats members! You bring the food, we’ll bring the beer.
Fall Race Series:
- Every Tuesday from July 30th-September 17th
Lady Mariners Bareboat Brush-up:
- Sunday, August 11th, 2019 – 1:00pm-5:00pm
- 12 spots available!
- Aboard 2 of our Oceanis 34’s!
- $195.00 + port fee
Docking Clinic:
- Sunday, October 20th, 2019 – 10:00am-2:00pm
- Aboard our Oceanis 34’!
- 6 spots available!
- $105.00 + port fee
Parade of Lights Group Boat:
- Sunday, December 2019 – 5:00pm-8:30pm (dates TBD)
- 6 spots available!
- Aboard our Oceanis 45’!
- $195.00 + port fee