Welcome
I created this site to meet people interested in sailing with groups on my boat, Amelia. Our group of friends meets up for shared- expenses sailing trips; we are not a commercial operation, there is no required cost for sailing trips.
Please read all of the sailing information below for more about the boat and me, typical trips, what to bring, what to wear, and safety. Some of our trips are recorded on our sailing blog.
All guests must agree to the legal terms posted on this website.
Interested? Go ahead and join our email list. That’s the key thing since I make all the sailing announcements via the list and it’s nearly impossible to keep track otherwise.
What to wear, what to bring, what to expect. Continues below…
The boat
Amelia is an Islander Bahama 30 sailboat located on San Francisco Bay.
The “skipper”
Hi, I’m Jeremy, the “skipper,” (captain? head-sailor? Gilligan?). I’m an open-minded guy in my early thirties. I’ve been sailing since about 1999, with extensive experience throughout SF Bay and occasional experience on ocean waters.
Most of this is written in the “editorial we” fashion, referring to our group of friends and freaks that sail with us.
Typical sailing trips
Our sailing trips are generally daysails around the bay with a pot-luck lunch, sometimes stopping at a harbor or anchorage.
Angel Island, Aquatic Park, Treasure Island, the Cityfront, Sausalito, the Golden Gate, and McCovey Cove (the baseball park) are favorite daysail destinations.
Occasionally we plan longer trips, such as overnights to an anchorage like Angel Island or China Camp, up to Vallejo and the delta, down to the south bay, or out on the ocean to Half Moon Bay (some of the trips are detailed here]).
Sailing trips generally start mid-morning and return a little after sunset. Sometimes we get back later, so plan accordingly.
Please show up on time or a few minutes early. It’s a good idea to budget a few extra minutes to get to the marina, especially if you need to stop for any supplies.
What to bring
Bring a good attitude, proper clothing and sun protection, and good food to share!
The skipper provides the boat and equipment, and requests everyone bring several food items to share for a pot-luck meal.
This is not a commercial venture, so there is no cost to sail. If you’d like to throw in a few dollars for shared expenses, that is appreciated. Please keep in mind that any money you contribute is not for the sailing trip itself, rather to help us maintain the boat. You can not buy a seat!
What to wear
For all sailing, you should bring layers of clothing so you will be comfortable if it’s very hot or very cold. You should be able to go from shorts and a tee shirt, to a light sweatshirt or jacket, to a heavy-duty jacket, to foul-weather gear.
We really can’t emphasize enough that you should bring the full spectrum of clothes; it is really not fun to be too hot or too cold — or wet — out there!
Be sure to bring sunblock, sunglasses and a hat that will protect you from the sun.
Please wear non-skid deck-type shoes — white soles only — to avoid scuffing. This is mandatory; sorry folks, no exceptions.
Noncommercial status
The sailing trips we do are basically friends and family gatherings; we don’t run a commercial sailing service, folks are welcome to donate a few dollars to help pay for the cost of operating and maintaining the boat, but there is not a required cost to come sailing. This site lets us meet new folks who are interested in sailing, and become part of our group of friends.
Safety
We carry PFDs (lifejackets) for everyone on board. If you have your own PFD and gear (any and all), bring it along. We also carry flares, fire extinguishers and a marine VHF radio.
Sailing can be a dangerous/risky sport . If you are hesitant about that, please look for something else.
All guests agree to our legal terms, posted on this website. By sailing with us, you aknowledge that you have read and agree to these terms. If you are hesitant, please do not attend.
No kids
We are not equipped for children; there are many youth sailing programs around the bay which are appropriate for kids.
Before and after sailing
Before departing we run through a somewhat extensive checklist which includes stowing all items onboard, checking the weather reports, noting currents, checking engine oils, closing all the hatches and answering any questions.
Upon return it takes about 30 minutes to get the boat cleaned up and put away. The skipper may ask you to help with cleaning/scrubbing, taking out the trash, etc. Thank you for helping out! Then we can relax, sometimes heading out for dinner or coffee.
Your input
If you have any concerns or questions, please bring them up as soon as possible. We’re happy to go over any concerns. You may even prompt some sea stories, and we like sea stories.
Seasickness
It’s unusual to be seasick on the bay.
It’s more common to be seasick on the ocean.
Either way, if you think you may be seasick, there are several drugs you can take before departing. Bonine is the most common, and may be found at West Marine.
Ask us, before departing, if this is a concern.
Join our email list
We send trip announcements via email. If you’d like to be notified of open trips, please join our email list.
To join our list:
* Send a blank email to sailcrew-join-subscribe@topica.com.
* Email or call Jeremy (see the contact information) and introduce yourself.
* Come for an introductory sail!
When you subscribe to the email list you will get a confirmation message that you must either reply to, or click on the link. If you click on the link you will be brought to the Topica registration page. You do NOT have to register with Topica to subscribe!
Directions to the marina
Amelia is located at the Alameda Marina on the “estuary” side of the island of Alameda. The Alameda Marina is located at 1815 Clement St.
When you arrive, wait at the green picnic tables at the head of the 600 dock — we’ll meet up there.
By public transit
Take BART to the Fruitvale station. Catch the AC-Transit 19 bus. Get off the bus at Buena Vista and Grand, and walk a couple blocks East to Clement St. The marina can be identified by the rows of brown buildings; enter at any open gate — Gate 7 is the main entrance.
You may enjoy walking from Fruitvale BART to the marina (I do!). It takes about 45 minutes.
By car
By car, you’ll most likely be coming from the 880 freeway. Please use Google or Yahoo maps to create customized directions from your location to 1815 Clement St, Alameda, CA. Enter the marina at Gate 7 and drive staight forward toward the water and park there, near the 600 dock.
Meet us at the green picnic tables.
Maps
Here are some maps from Yahoo, both a regional overview and a closer detail of Alameda. We’ve given you plenty of info; if you still get lost, it’s on you!
Regional
Detail
Contact Jeremy
Jeremy Randall, 415 827-1037 (cell), sailorjeremy at jeremyrandall dot org.
Legal terms
All guests agree to our legal terms:
Sailing guests recognize, accept and indemnify themselves against any and all personal risks, including serious injury and/or death, that are associated with this activity. Sailing trips are a joint-venture in a non-commercial voyage.
Guests are considered neither passenger nor crew member, and are not entitled to benefits under the Jones Act. Guests understand they are not employees and are under no obligation to participate in any activity.
