Reference Library

A number of documents have been written over the years by the more experienced members of the Cal Sailing Club to help newer members learn how to sail. The content of these documents varies from basic sailing terminology to advanced sailing techniques. Listed below are documents currently available to members of the club. Those documents with a page link have been converted to HTML and can be viewed on-line.

Many of the documents are available in Adobe portable document format (.PDF).  Click on the to download in PDF format.  You will need to download the free Adobe Acrobat reader to view and print the files (the size of the file is noted after the link). The others are available at the clubhouse and (hopefully) will eventually also be converted.

General Handbooks and Club Information

Introductory Handbook for Sailing Boats 455K

This basic handbook is provided to all new members and provides all the information a person needs to learn everything from sailing terminology to performing your first jibe.

Windsurfing Manual  437K

This introductory handbook is provided to all new members interested in windsurfing and provides all the information a person needs to learn everything from sailing terminology, to rigging your sail, to doing your first jibes. Now includes Bill Prinzmetal's popular "How to Windsurf in 10 Steps.  

Operating Rules 
This document includes the most detailed, day-to-day rules for the club.  This includes rating requirements, when and where members can sail, and lots more.

Constitution of the Cal Sailing Club  10K
This document and the By-Laws noted below are the legal guidelines by which our non-profit organization is run.  The Constitution is the basic document that lays out the purpose of the club, and broad guidelines on membership and club officers.

By-Laws of the Cal Sailing Club  46K
This document provides more detailed guidelines on Club operations, including duties of the officers, how club meetings are run,  and what to do about disciplinary action.

Instructional Guidelines

Instructional Guidelines for Teaching in Lido 14's 52K

This pamphlet provides step-by-step instructions for teaching students how to sail in the club's Lido 14's. It breaks the instructions down into phases, starting with the basics of getting your crew safely into the dinghy to practicing man overboard drills. This pamphlet is also very helpful for people learning to sail or just brushing up your skills.

Water Starts 
Once you're a Junior Windsurfer, you'll want to learn how to water start and forget about uphauling in all those waves.

A Basic Manual for Keel Boat Sailing at CSC (MS Word document)

Program of Instruction (MS Word document)

Why a Boat heads up when it heels (MS Word document)

Senior/Crusing Rating Information

How to Become a Senior Skipper  9K
This article, written by Dan Acland in his typical irreverent style, provides some good advice on what things you need to do to obtain a Senior Skipper rating.

How to get your Senior Skipper rating in one summer (MS Word document) or view in format.

General Information for Senior Skipper Candidates (MS Word document) or view in format.

 

General Information for Crusing Skipper Candidates (MS Word document) or view in format.

 

Advanced Topics (MS Word document)
This documents discusses advanced topics such as night sailing, anchoring, and MOB.

Crusing Information

Cruise Destinations 43K

Cal Sailing Club's most experienced sailors regularly take members and their guests on cruises on from Berkeley to points throughout San Francisco Bay. Long-time Cruising Skipper Charles Clausen put together a pamphlet showing how to prepare for cruises to all the major destinations: Sausolito, Angel Island, Pier 39 in San Francisco, and many more. Lots of helpful hints on how to make your cruise enjoyable for everyone!

Motors and Motoring 24K

The proper operation of an outboard engine is essential to cruising in San Francisco Bay. Whether it's docking at Sam's or steering clear of a huge container ship, these basic instructions on the use and care of the club's small outboards are essential reading.

Organizing a Cruise  13K

Members seeking to obtain their Cruising Skipper rating use this pamphlet to find out about the proper procedures to set up a club cruise. These include determining where to sail to, advertising your cruise, preparing the boat, and other topics.

 

The following documents are not available on-line.

Please look at the club for these documents.

Laser 

A short pamphlet on how to rig and sail the club's Lasers. 

470 

A short pamphlet on how to rig and sail the club's 470. 

Rhodes 19 

A short pamphlet on how to rig and sail the club's Rhodes 19's. 

Rudderless 

Who says you need a rudder? Advanced members can use this pamphlet to learn about the effects of sail trim and weight distribution on a sailboat's course. Tack, jibe, and perform man-overboard retrievals without ever touching the tiller! 

Spinnaker 

This pamphlet tells you how to rig and use those big, colorful sails called spinnakers. 

Sail Trim 

A short pamphlet on the effects of sail trim.