Frequently Asked Questions

All you need to do is learn to operate our day-sailers, be checked out, and you’re a qualified Skipper. Move-ups to the cruising boats can be accelerated, provided you have been checked out on boats specified for your harbor.

See our Current Membership Rates and Fees.

Because everyone who joins is expected to volunteer to serve! This is the secret of our more than four decades of successful low-cost operation. The Commodore, Board Members, Boat Chiefs, Cruise Chairman, Sailing Instructors, Editor – ALL VOLUNTEER. If new members have previous sailing club experience, or boating talents, we all will benefit.

Fairwind members have use of the following boats:

See our Fleet Information page for more details.

All boats are in the water, ready to sail, except the J-24. They are located in Dock G1400, Marina del Rey and at Peninsula Yacht Marina (PYM) and Ventura County Small Boat Marina (VCSBM) in Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard. The J-24 is kept in Mast-up Dry Storage at Channel Islands.

Men and women, from age 20 and up, some single, some married, some with children. Some experienced sailors, some new to sailing.

Marina del Rey usually meets on the second Saturday of every month and Channel Islands Harbor, on the third Sunday of each month. These are the best times to meet members of the Club and you will probably be invited to sail in the afternoon. But these dates sometimes get changed, especially for Holidays e.g. the July 4 weekend.

The links below give the locations and times. See the Work Day & Open House schedule and the club calendar for upcoming dates.

Reservations are made on-line through our separate scheduling website. A reservation guarantees you sailing time – even during the warm summer months.

As a crewperson, go as soon as you join. The club has more than 12 cruises per year leaving from either Marina del Rey (MdR) or Channel Islands Harbor (CIH). Destinations include King Harbor, Catalina, Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa Islands. To cruise as a Skipper, you must be checked out on a medium boat, have completed four required American Sailing Association courses and be certified for cruising.

Yes, boats are there for you to sail almost any time. However, as you improve and progress through the Club, you are expected to volunteer – TO RETURN THE HELP given to you by fellow Club members. You learn, you offer to teach and you serve newer members.

Each boat has a volunteer member assigned as Boat Chief. Major work is contracted, minor work is done by members working with the Boat Chief on Saturday work days or at other times.

There is none – except that each member is expected to contribute time and help to the Club in whatever way he or she can. Members serve as officers, as newsletter editor, as sailing instructors, as cruise chairperson, or by helping with boat maintenance.

Yes, for both hull damage and liability. There is, however, a deductible amount – very similar to one’s automobile insurance.

Contact Us: Web Form

The membership application is here.

The By-Laws can be found here.

The Standing Rules can be found here.