A weblog for San Francisco Bay sailors

"USA"

Make your plans now to watch the 33rd America’s Cup Challenge in live streaming video beginning February 8th on the BMW ORACLE Website!

BMW ORACLE Racing and its 90-foot trimaran, USA, featuring a towering 68-meter (223 feet) wing sail, will meet the Swiss defender, Alinghi 5, a catamaran, in a first-to-win-two-race Match.  “Race Day” programming kicks off on Monday, February 8, the first scheduled race day of the Match.  Racing in the Deed of Gift Match is scheduled on the 8th, 10th and 12th of February – weather permitting. The first team to win two races is the winner of the 33rd America’s Cup. Races one and three (if necessary) will be a windward - leeward course with 20 mile legs, 40 miles in total.  Race two is a triangle, with 13 mile legs, 39 miles in total.   

7th Annual SAN FRANCISCO OCEAN FILM FESTIVAL

FEBRUARY 3-7, 2010

THEATRE 39 | The Embarcadero and Beach Street, San Francisco

Looking for something fun and interesting to do this week? Check out some of the amazing films being shown at the Ocean Film Festival. This is a great event and a great way to show to support for the individuals and organizations working to protect our oceans!

Anthony Sandberg, OCSC President & Founder, was recently profiled in an article in the Entrepreneurs’ Organization’s Newsletter. The article, “Traveling is Good for the Soul and the Bottom Line,” is a great introduction and history to the company culture here at OCSC.

Since 2002, EO San Francisco member Anthony Sandberg has traveled for pleasure eight to 12 weeks per year. When he shares this fact with other entrepreneurs, most shake their head and say, “It must be nice, but I could never do that!”

Sandberg, who founded OCSC SAILING in 1979, used to believe the same thing … until he fell off a cliff and shattered his leg. “Unable to walk, I had time to think about my own life and what was important,” says Sandberg. “I was so involved in my work that I had excluded important things like family and friends, as well as lifelong desires for other experiences such as sports, education and, above all, travel.”

Read more…

A fun video of a near perfect Person Overboard Recovery Maneuver. Nice!

If you have any videos or photos you want to share with us, feel free to post them to our Facebook Page!

Abby Sunderland has just departed Marina Del Ray, CA for an attempted solo-circumnavigation.  If she is successful, she will be the youngest person to accomplish the feat. You may recognize her name, her older brother, Zac, recently finished his own circumnavigation and was momentarily the youngest solo-circumnavigator.  It seems like more and more kids are trying to attempt this daunting trip.  ABC News has an interesting piece that highlights the critics opinion of this trend.

What do you think? Is this a good idea? If you were the parents, would you let you’re 16 year old daughter sail around the world?

If you have ever been to the OCSC Clubroom, you’ve probably noticed the stunning photos hanging on the wall.  I remember the first time I came to OCSC, the clubroom was filled with pictures from the OCSC Antarctic Adventure trip.  It was the first time I  had ever seen a photo collection from the frozen continent.  The color and vibrance was incredible, so much so that I had to ask Anthony if they were even real photographs. He reassured me they were, and also told me that the pictures barely did the scenery justice. Ever since that conversation, it’s been a dream of mine someday visit Antarctica.  Many others share this ambition.

Tonight we’re hosting the Antarctica Adventure Planning Party at OCSC Sailing. Anthony Sandberg, OCSC Founder & President as well as 2011 Antarctica Adventure trip leader, will be explaining more details of the trip and telling stories from his previous expeditions to Antarctica. This is as close you can get to Antarctica without actually visiting the continent (figuratively speaking, of course!)

2011 Antarctica Adventure
Trip Dates: February 8-27 , 2011

Planning Party
When: Saturday, Jan. 23rd 6:30pm
Where: OCSC Sailing, Clubroom

As always, feel free to give us a call to discuss the trip anytime! 800.223.2984

Haiti is in dire need of help. We’re hearing estimates of death tolls in the hundreds of thousands. Please do what you can to help Haitians and the organizations working to help.

Doctors Without Borders

MercyCorps

Oxfam International

Please join OCSC Sailing in keeping Haiti and everyone affected in our thoughts and prayers.

Capt. Michael Whitfield will be at OCSC Sailing teaching the very popular Sail Trim Seminar.  This is one of the most popular seminars offered by OCSC Sailing, and we’re really excited to have Michael back to teach it. Michael is the skipper of TMC Racing, 2008 J/24 Fleet 17 Season Champions. His knowledge of sail trim and sail shape is world-class, and this two-part course will be an in-depth look at all things sail trim. This will be a great course for cruising sailors and unmissable for racers and aspiring racers.

When: Thursday, February 18th & 25th, 7-10pm

Where: OCSC Sailing, 1 Spinnaker Way, Berkeley, CA 94710

Cost:  $150 Retail   $112.50 Members

RSVP: (800) 223-2984

This video doesn’t get old; it’s very inspirational. After watching it, you can’t stop the sudden urge to do some of your own traveling.  It’s a new year with new opportunities. If you’re interested in any of the 2010 OCSC  Flotillas  & Adventures or have questions about any sailing destination, feel free to give us a call anytime!