Afterguard Sailing Adventures One Day Exp. or Youth Camps
Youth Small Boat and Keelboat Classes
In 2008, we launched our Youth Summer Sailing Camps, offering 1- to 5-week sessions. Campers start with the fundamentals and advance to sailing the San Francisco Bay in both small boats and keelboats.
Since 2019, Afterguard has operated from a 4,500-square-foot facility next to our marina, equipped to host full-size youth class groups. We have a small fleet of boats ready for instruction and a dedicated community of certified instructors plus volunteer club members who love helping youth learn to sail. People from all walk of life that make great mentors for youth.
Custom group schedules are available with advance notice. We’re happy to work with schools, homeschool groups, or families to create a program that fits your needs.
Youth One Day Experience
Sail the challenging and beautiful waters of San Francisco Bay for a day. Will have an amazing time seeing the sites and participating in sailing a large sailing craft. Adult chaperones required. We can provide or can join from the youth group.
Youth Summer Camps
Adventures on the waterways.
First all participants need to learn to sail. A small boat teaches the best for youth. After have the language and basics of how to sail a boat alone then learn on two person boats how to participate in sailing a boat as leader and as crew.
Next we begin adventures on SF protected waters in the small boats. Next layer add keelboats and greater range as to where we sail. The aventures out into SF Central Bay to culminate on a sail to Angel Island.
Sample Schedule
WEEK ONE:
Student participants in the first week learn about sailing, first aboard a 23' boat that does not capsize and is safe to sail both in the Oakland Estuary and in SF Bay waters.
Mon-Tue - There is some classtime and lots of water time each day.
Wed-Thu - focus on sailing independently aboard a small boat. As skills develop may move to larger small boats to work in teams of two where trade roles skipper and as crew.
Fri - students play "follow the leader" through sailing games on land and in the water. These are fun and help to improve sailing skills. The games make sailing to feel natural.
Can qualify for ASA 110 Small Boat Sailing, at the end of day 3 if succeed in the on-the-water drills and take a written test.
WEEK TWO: Explorers Certification week
Mon - Plan to sail small or/and keelboats to a destination in the am. In the afternoon work on sailing skills.
Tue - Sail the Oakland Estuary each group of 2 sailing there own boats to fit that plan - Jack London Square or Union Basin as initial destinations.
Wed - Expand horizons to Aeolian Yacht Club or Treasure Island depending on the tides and currents. Factor into sail plan the days tides and currents and then sail. We will make it a treasure hunt along the Oakland Estuary.
Thu-Fri - Focus on improving sailing skills. If not yet, this is a second chance to achieve earning an ASA 110 certification.
WEEK THREE: SF Bay Introduction
Mon - Sail out of the Estuary in full view of the Port of Oakland
Tue - Sail out to Treasure Island for lunch and back
Wed - Tour Coast Guard Island led by one of our teacher who is currently in the USCG
Thu - Learn how to do basic navigation.
Fri - Sail to Angel Island where students help navigate to get there for lunch and back.
WEEK FOUR: Explorers Week - Finding Direction
Sailors speaking the basics of the language of the sea can talk to or understand the varied local marine professionals to see if this is a direction for them. Past students have gone into marina management, international shipping, tug captain which may yet lead toward becoming a Bar Pilot.
Mon - Tour boat yards large and small. Visit a sail and canvas shop, and if lucky, see the Doer underwater submersible facility on Alameda Island
Tue - Drive to Sausalito's SF Bay Model - tour the 9 acre replica of the entire SF Bay waters, from the Gate to Sacramento, Stockton and Tracy. 2400 miles of waterways.
Wed - visit SF Bar Pilot's base, Hyde Street Pier and the maritime museum. Showcases the highest paid marine jobs and roles maritime endeavors has had on SF and the world.
Thu - Tour Vallejo's Cal Maritime campus led by an American Navigation tug captain, a former Afterguard camp participant who was inspired.
Fri - Sail aboard our 45' yacht to circle the Bay seeing the commercial ships in action all around the Bay.
WEEK FIVE - Atually at any time can request to take the 4 day ASA110 certification course. If have sailed small boats can also challenge to become ASA certified for small boats.