For my birthday last summer the Mister and Missus Bird gave me an "Intro to Sailing" through the Olympic Circle Sailing Club in Berkeley. Being the lagger that I am, I waited through the nice warm months til it was good and dewey outside before scheduling an outing.
It actually threw in another element of fun, since we got to suit up in some sweet weather proof gear.
Franklin as the Gorton's Fisherman.
When the fog turned to rain we were glad we were all bundled up.
Couldn't see much out there so our instructor kept us within eyesight of the Berkeley Pier. Can't imagine getting lost out there in the fog.
Since there were only four of us (plus our mentor), we all got a chance at the wheel. Learned all about mains and jibs and accidental jibing and and didn't even barf as we heeled over at a 45 degree angle. Not sure if a sailor's life is the life for me, but I could definitely do it every once in a while.
Admired the pier some more, this time through glass and accompanied by some post sailing wine at Skates. When it was first constructed in 1926 it stretched three and a half miles into the bay, with a two-lane road running the whole length and an auto ferry at the end that chugged across to the Hyde St pier (the whole thing serving as a section of Highway 40). Once the Bay Bridge went up the ferry became obsolete and closed down in 1939. You can still walk out a couple thousand feet, but the rest has fallen into disrepair.
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Want to get your feet wet? OCSC has all sorts of hands on classes you can take, or if you just want to get the feel of things they offer a two hour "Intro to Sailing" which is what we were on. They're over in the same area with the Berkeley Marina and the pier and everything is pretty well signed once you get on that side of the freeway (from I-80 take the University exit and flip a u-turn or box as soon as you can and head west over towards the water). Skates On The Bay is over there too, but athough it looks neat from the outside its pretty chain restaurant-y on the inside. I will admit, though, they have a damn fine view and our yam fries were delicious...