Shoreline Lake Boathouse to debut public Sail-A-Dinghy-Day in April

Boathouse clubs & racing © Shoreline Lake

Introduction to sailing event will include free skippered sailboat rides, Racing Club demos, booths and on-land access to small vessels used for Sunday Races at Silicon Valley's best kept secret.

Shoreline Lake announced today the launch of a Sail-A-Dinghy-Day as part of the 2024 rollout of the sailing season and the Sunday Sailing Racing program. Taking place on April 21st, from 10am to 4pm, and designed to promote sailing as an accessible, fun and family-friendly sport, this event will be hosted in conjunction with the Fremont Sailing Club (FSC) - one of the Bay Area's foremost small-craft sailing clubs.

Given its "Intro to Sailing" underpinnings, visitors will get access to free skippered sailboat rides, helmed by Shoreline Lake's experienced instructors. As the FSC oversees the Sailing Races, on-the-water racing technique demonstrations will take place also. On land, booths promoting the sailing programs (for kids, teens and adults), and a display of racing dinghies (such as Lido 14, El Toro, Sunfish, Lasers, Holders and others) will be available as well. And, Shoreline Lake sailing staff and FSC members will be on hand to provide additional information.

"Since sailing can be scary to non-sailors, we wanted to develop a hands-on small vessel context for easing newbies into this amazing activity," says Christina Ferrari, President of Silicon Shores Corporation (which operates the Shoreline Lake facilities). "Their small size makes dinghies approachable and enjoyable for everyone, especially in this protected environment, which is a safer experience than sailing in the San Francisco Bay."

The event also aims to showcase why Shoreline Lake is such an attractive sailing destination for experienced small boaters and those learning to sail: Nestled within a wildlife refuge, the lighter winds, lack of strong currents, no commercial marine traffic, and dedicated facilities geared towards dinghies provide a range of options, including access to a variety of camps and sailing classes, as well as a vibrant racing scene.

"We welcome everyone interested in sailing to join us at the Sail-A-Dinghy-Day and experience the sheer pleasure of being out on the water, regardless of sailing background," says Earl Thomas (FSC Commodore & Lido 14 sailor).

"As local avid dinghy sailors, who love spreading the word about sailing, we're excited about holding this type of demonstration event to kick off the new 2024 racing season and show why sailing has become our passion."

In addition to a great excuse for spending the day outdoors in a peaceful locale, and promoting sailing in the Bay Area, the event's activities will give visitors a peek into the lifelong skills that make sailing an invigorating sport (regardless of boat size) that leads to an ongoing sense of accomplishment.

For more information about the event activities, please contact Boathouse sailing staff (sailing@shorelinelake.com) and the Fremont Sailing Club. Details about the 2024 Racing schedule can be found on the Shoreline Lake Clubs & Racing page.