Expand Your Horizons Learn to sail and explore the world with Tradewinds Sailing School in Richmond Sailing has been a major part of life here in the Bay Area for generations. Driving into San Francisco you’d be hard pressed to not see a sail flapping in the wind. For many of us, sadly, that’s the epitome of our sailing adventures—seeing someone else do it. Well, with the help of Tradewinds Sailing School & Club located in Richmond’s Marina Bay, that sailing dream of yours may not be so farfetched after all. “Be careful, because once you get into sailing it’s going to become a major part of your life,” warns Tradewinds Owner Matt Kepner. “Be willing to commit, it’s definitely a lifestyle change once you get into it.” But if you put in the work and make it a priority, sailing offers an endless supply of experiences that you couldn’t get any other way. “We do it for the vacations,” Kepner says. “Once you get certified and you have a certain level of experience, you can fly someplace tropical and rent a boat for a week or two; once you do that you’ll probably never want to stay in a hotel again.” And it’s about the same cost as staying at a resort. Kepner will be returning to the Sea of Cortez next year, which is where By Matt Larson he experienced one of the highlights of his life at sea. “Sailing with upwards of 300 or 400 dolphins at once, all around the boat—pretty cool.” So, now that the fantasy is in place, time to put in the work! You have to take some classes and get some education in order to join the club and go sailing on the boats at Tradewinds, but once you do, you’ll have access to a fleet of 35 boats to help you explore the Bay Area like never before. And at Tradewinds, you’ll be able to do it as much as you like. “We offer unlimited use of the boats for a flat fee,” said Kepner. “Nobody else does that.” So for a monthly membership cost of $175, you pretty much have your own sailboat to use whenever you want, as if you owned it yourself. “Even better, you have a whole fleet of them!” Kepner adds. “Catalina, Hunter, Beneteau, Dufour, Jeanneau … We have a ton of different boats.” There are other membership options, but unlimited use? That’s the way to go. As a beginner you’ll ideally start with their Basic Keelboat class, which is a 3-day, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. class
Contra Costa Marketplace - Feb 2016
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