Whether you’re chasing a high-speed race rush, looking for a leisurely sunset cruise, or seeking the feeling of utter freedom – the feeling of being on deck with the wind in your hair and the sun on your shoulders – boating opportunities in the South Bay abound.
Fairly consistent winds and a generally temperate climate make sailing a must-do during a South Bay summer. A bevy of sailing schools and yacht clubs cater to the needs of sailors both serious and casual, and the Redondo Beach Marina is the place to find them.
“All the South Bay cities have a beach. Only Redondo has a harbor that serves as an easy on-ramp to the ocean for those wanting to get out there, whether it be for sailing, paddle sports, kayaking, powerboating, marine mammal watching, whatever,” King Harbor Yacht Club Commodore Lisa Falk said. “People are missing a really unique and rare opportunity if they aren’t [using] the harbor… Whichever club/company/organization they feel fits them best, it’s just all good!”
For salty sailors, there are three yacht clubs in the harbor: King Harbor Yacht Club, Redondo Beach Yacht Club, and Port Royal Yacht Club. South Bay clubs, in keeping with the areas that accommodate them, are “not snooty or fancy-schmancy ones,” Falk says. They welcome anyone who shares a love of boating or wants to develop one.
During the summer, all three clubs host races for both members and non-members. King Harbor and Redondo Beach run “beer can races,” a euphemism for slightly less-serious races, on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 4:30 p.m., in addition to their more competitive regular races.
King Harbor has a women’s fleet and a dinghy fleet, both of which are open to non-members.
Another option for seasoned sailors is to rent a boat from South Bay Sailing or from Marina Sailing to enjoy the sun, wind, waves, and freedom of sailing in summer.
If you want your kids to pick up sailing, South Bay Sailing runs five separate kids’ camps during the summer and King Harbor Youth Foundation runs a learn-to-sail program for kids, high school students, and adults.
The City of Redondo Beach runs a sailing academy, which has a youth camp for kids between 10 and 17 in June, July, and August, as well as adult sailing classes.
And if you just want to be on the water but don’t want to be in the captain’s seat, both South Bay Sailing and Marina Sailing have skippers who are happy to take you cruising. Whatever your level, there’s a way for you to get involved and out on the ocean blue.
Each yacht club has a website: King Harbor Yacht Club, khyc.org; Redondo Beach Yacht Club, redondobeachyachtclub.org; and Port Royal Yacht Club, pryc.us. Visit SouthBaySailing.com and MarinaSailing.com if you want to go for a sail, and visit redondo.org/depts/recreation/classes___activities/sailing_academy.asp for more information about the city’s sailing academy.
The Redondo Beach Sailing Club, associated with the Redondo Sailing Academy program, is open to the public. Paid members are free to use the club’s boats every Sunday. For more information, visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/
Below is a partial event calendar for this summer. For full listings, visit www.regattanetwork.com/html/calendar.html.
Spinnaker Series
May 18, June 15, August 10
A race of about 34 miles across Santa Monica Bay to a mark near the Malibu Pier and back, hosted by King Harbor Yacht Club.
Twilight Series
May 23 through September 14
Every Thursday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., hosted by King Harbor Yacht Club.
Plastic Classic
Saturday, June 8
Eighth annual Southern California Plastic Classic Regatta, hosted by Port Royal Yacht Club. Race starts at 1:00 p.m.
Quantum Women’s Race Clinic
June 8, hosted by King Harbor Yacht Club
All-day race clinic with Sam Heck, featuring seminar and land drills, lunch, coaching, and mini-races. Cost $35
Queen Mary Regatta
June 29
Hosted by Redondo beach Yacht Club, the regatta begins in King Harbor and ends at Queen Mary.
Tom Collier Race
Saturday, July 13
The Tom Collier “Regatta for Hope” features a regatta, BBQ, and auctions in honor of Tom Collier, an avid yachtsman and King Harbor Yacht Club member who died of cancer at the age of 31. Proceeds benefit charity. For more information, visit http://giving.cedars-sinai.edu/tomcollier.
