Every week we take the Yakamoz out on the Bay. You'll learn to sail, watch for porpoises, and do your share. It's free (for the foreseeable).
I take people sailing every week — strangers, friends, curious people I meet on the street. We sail out of Berkeley Marina on the Yakamoz, a 1978 Columbia 10.7 that I rebuilt mostly with my own hands.
You'll learn sailing terminology, how to handle lines, how to read the wind. Old people, young people — everyone contributes according to their capacity. Nobody watches from the sidelines.
It's free. For now...
📄 Read the Full Welcome PacketWe plan trips a week out based on wind forecasts. SF Bay summers mean strong wind and spray. Winter means southerlies, rain, and some of the best sailing of the year. Dress in layers — always.
Long johns, a windbreaker, a sun hat. It will be colder on the water than on land. Mark Twain was right about San Francisco summers. Bring layers you don't mind getting wet.
Harbor porpoises, sea lions, pelicans, cormorants, scoters, terns. The Bay is alive. If we go outside the Gate toward the Farallones, the list gets much longer.
Everyone steers. Everyone handles lines. You'll learn the clove hitch, the bowline, how to use a winch. The more you sail, the more you'll take on. That's the whole point.
8 PFDs on board, flares, marine radio, EPIRB, AIS. Moe is certified in CPR and Wilderness First Aid. No alcohol on the water, ever. We go over safety as a crew before every sail.
North Berkeley station is your stop. Bike or walk down Virginia St to Aquatic Park, cross the pedestrian bridge, and head west along the trail to the Marina.
The 51B drops you at the roundabout. Walk 300 feet south to F/G Dock. Safe bike locking at the dock.
Skip Google Maps — it's not built for this. Try ModeMix (iOS) or BikeHopper (browser + Android/iOS). Both are built for mixed-mode routing — bike to BART, scooter to bus, whatever gets you here without a car.
Park on the east side of Spinnaker Way by McLaughlin East Shore State Seashore Park. Do not park inside the Marina — you will get towed. If you've reached the hotel, you've gone too far north.
The SF Bay is one of the most remarkable sailing grounds in the world. Strong, reliable wind. Flat, protected water. A boat rebuilt from the keel up, ready for whatever the Bay throws at us. This video captures it — we biked to the marina in 35 knots, then sailed in 35 knots.
Short answer: no. Yakamoz has 5,000 pounds of lead hanging off the bottom. The more she tips, the more the keel pulls her back. Barring the failure of seven inch-thick stainless steel bolts, she's not going over.
Statistically, not at all. The biggest risks in boating are alcohol and motor boats — we have neither. The two things I actually watch: the boom and the companionway steps. We talk about both before every sail.
Probably not. The Bay doesn't get ocean swells — the Golden Gate is too narrow. That said, everyone is different. If you're prone to motion sickness, stay in the cockpit, keep your eyes on the horizon, and talk to your doctor beforehand.
We have a marine head on board. I recommend using the marina bathrooms before we cast off — I'll hand you the fob.
Very possibly yes. I'm genuinely interested in making sailing accessible. All we need to do is talk. Reach out and let me know your situation — we'll figure it out together.
Please tell me as soon as you know. We're a crew — losing someone changes things, and early notice goes a long way.
It's free (for the foreseeable). You contribute by showing up, learning, and doing your share.
Calm days, windy days, wet days. This is what it looks like out there.
I started sailing in October 2018. Since then I've logged over 159 trips on the Bay — including some open ocean passages that changed how I understand weather, risk, and what I'm capable of.
Yakamoz is a Columbia 10.7, built in 1978. When I bought her she was a hulk — a nautical term for a boat that floats but not much else. I've replaced nearly every system on her. I've learned as much from rebuilding her as from sailing her.
I hand out cards to people I meet — at coffee shops, on bike paths, at farmers markets. People who seem curious. People who seem like they might want something real. If you're reading this, that's probably you.
If you've sailed with us once or twice and you're hooked — if you want to sail to the Farallones, Drake's Bay, or Santa Cruz Island; if you want to join our whale communication eavesdropping project; if you want to bring your friends sailing; or if you eventually want to take Yakamoz out with your own crew — without needing Moe along — we're building a program for you.
Train to become an expert on sailing Yakamoz. Program under development — sign up below and we'll keep you posted.
I'm interested — sign me up →Fill out the form and you'll be added to the announcements WhatsApp — that's where each sail gets posted. Moe has logged 159+ sails on the Bay and counting.
Where:
F/G Dock, Berkeley Marina
37.8675° N, 122.3124° W →
When:
Generally Sundays, 10am–noon. Midweek too, especially in summer.
(weather permitting — Moe announces each sail in advance)
Parking:
Park on the east side of Spinnaker Way by McLaughlin East Shore State Seashore Park. Do not park inside the Marina — you will get towed. If you've reached the hotel, you've gone too far north.
What to bring:
Layers, sunscreen, water, snacks, curiosity.