Boating Resources

Since we're a boating club, we have some info on learning to sail, learning about boating, and even about other boating clubs we know and like. Much of the resources here cover not just [name of port], but the name of area] coast and even the country or world.

NOTE: As this is no longer a live site, some of these resources may be out of date. If so, but if you are intereested, please seek them elsewhere.

Learning

Places in the LA area to learn to sail, learn about boating, etc.
Also some online resources.

• US Sailing
  Want to learn about racing rules, check out sailing programs, learn about seamanship and such? Seeking places to sail or to rent boats? Looking for a sailing school, powerboad school, (even wind surfing)? This is a great site for all that and more.
• Sailnet.com
  The starting point for an excellent collection of articles covering basic sailing skills. Sailnet is a huge site with a vast store of sailing information.
• U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
  The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary regularly offers courses in LA (and other places) for about $40 or $50. These courses are typically: Sailing & Seamanship, Sailing Fundamentals, and Basic/Advanced Coastal Navigation, and Introduction to GPS. This link is directly to Flotilla 42 — Marina del Rey.
• CA Dept of Boating & Waterways: ABCs of the California Boating Law
  An overview of California state laws pertaining to boating operation and safety.
• A Guide to Racing Techniques
  This is a detailed introduction to the sport of sailboat racing, written by Mark Johnson and posted in 1995. It focuses particularly on intercollegiate racing in small sailboats such as the FJ and the Laser. However, the ideas can be applied to most other boats.
• Navigation Skills
  This is an online course on marine navigation. The first chapter deals with the basics, then the level increases rapidly.
• The California Sailing Cooperative
  A non-profit organization where you can inexpensively learn about sailing per American Sailing Association standards.

Schools

• California Sailing Academy
  From their website:
  California Sailing Academy offers three progressive near coastal sailing courses. CSA 1, 2 & 3 are taught on 22 to 30 foot sloops with complete equipment, that are appropriate to the course content. We start you out in 27 foot pure sailing boats, sailing mostly inside the marina. This gives you the opportunity to safely learn the basics of sailing without relying on auxiliary power. In CSA 2, we introduce boats with engines that are similar to the coastal sailboats you would likely sail on your own.

Weather

Everyone talks about the weather but no one does anything about it.

• The Santa Monica Basin's bouy information
  National Data Buoy Center shares the data put out by its bouys. Learn Wind, Atmospheric Pressure, Temperatures, and more.
• Marine Weather Forecast
  The direct link to the current conditions and five-day forecast for the local coastal waters provided by the National Weather Service.
• NAVAL METEOROLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY CENTER - NORFOLK
  is the ultimate weather-geek site. It has the details on all sorts of water conditions. It's a particularly cool site if you're into tracking hurricanes and such. It's also got aviation weather.
• The Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center
  has some great information about the various regions of the world including the Pacific Ocean climates and weather.

Misc

Some other sources that can help you in your pursuit of time on the water.

• UK Sailmakers' Rules Quiz
  How well do you know the rules of sailing? Here's a quiz for you.
• Apparent Wind
  An online resource full of links to sailing and maritime information. Sailing enthusiast Mark Rosenstein started this site as a single page around 1993 and continues to add to it.
• Seafarers
  A world wide directory of Yacht Clubs and Boating Associations. There is also a collection of Nautical links.
• KNOTS to MPH chart
  From 20 knots to 165 knots, this page lists the equivalent miles per hour.

Sailing & Boating Clubs in Southern California

If you're not in the Marina del Rey area, you might want to check out these other single sailing clubs.

• Dana Point Singles At Sea
• Long Beach Singles Sailing Association
• Polaris Sailing Society — San Diego, CA (Point Loma)

Sailing & Boating Clubs in other areas

And if you're not in So Cal, take a trip, here are other single sailing clubs to look into.

• The Austin Sailing Society (Not singles-only.)
• The American Small Craft Association, aka, TASCA. (Not singles-only.)
  This is where our webmaster, Deb, learned to sail in New York City.
• Coconut Grove Sailing Club — Miami, Floria (Not singles-only.)
• Gulf Stream Sailing Club — South Florida (Not singles-only.)
• Sailing Singles of South Florida
• Seattle Singles Yacht Club

And if you're in the market to join an affordable yacht club ...

May we recommend our host club, [name removed, but not because I didn't love the club.] It's a casual atmosphere, the people are nice, and it's a self-service club, which means members can enter regardless of what time they get in from boating.