Sail a Small Boat Day

March 6, 2011

Just before the rain came in, Richmond Yacht Club ran the popular Sail a Small Boat Day, where you can try out all types of boats and kick tires (rudders?) if you're thinking of a new purchase.

Organizer Eric Arens and his low-tech sign-up sheet. ©2011 norcalsailing.com

Eric Arens of RYC tells the story: "Thirty-five boats in 25 classes came to the Sail-a-Small-Boat Day on Saturday, March 5, and enough people looking for rides came to keep the boats busy all day. When the Optimist races on that day were over, many of the Opti sailors jumped onto some of the Sail-a-Small-Boat Day boats.

Wetsuits were precautionary equipment on some of the rides, like the 29er and the I-14. ©2011 norcalsailing.com

"The large turnout was due to good weather and a good effort to promote the event. The flyer was sent to 68 yacht clubs other sailing establishments and was taken to 49 chandleries and sailing schools by car from Santa Rosa to Alameda and additional ones in the Sacramento area. Ads, notices, and articles were posted in Latitude 38, 'Lectronic Latitude, Sailing Anarchy, Facebook, Twitter, and the San Francisco Chronicle.

Not all the rides are dinghies. This is an Ultimate 20, which have lifting keels. ©2011 norcalsailing.com

Another 'bigger' boat. This is a Lightning, a centerboarder. ©2011 norcalsailing.com

"A lot of people helped to put on Sail-a-Small-Boat Day. Everybody thought of something to do and did it. The contributors in organizing the event were Harley Gee, Marceline Therrien, Greg Pfeiffer, Rich Deveau, Stanley Browne, Greg Gorsiski, Dan Brandt, Nick Barnhill, Kay Barnhill, Katy Hayward, Dave Berntsen, Bob Branstad, John Arndt of Latitude 38, Ryan Schofield of Sacramento, and Jeremy Leonard of Santa Cruz."

Hop aboard a Weta trimaran… ©2011 norcalsailing.com

…and go for a ride. ©2011 norcalsailing.com

These Banshee sailors check out one of their own with all the latest tricks. Usually Banshees are pretty simple. ©2011 norcalsailing.com