Family Friendly Bay Area Sailing Sites?

[GShannon]

Anyone have suggestions about the best Bay Area sailing site that can accomodate a Mother and Baby picnic while Dad sails?

Dad will obviously get more sailing if mother and baby are happy at their site!

[jse]

Well, I would consider Marina Bay (The other side of Pt. Isabel). Theres a nice park there with restrooms, grass, plenty of parking and BBQs. It can be a cold place if the fog is in too far, and if its 5.0 or better it can be unpleasant.

Another place is Sherman Island at the playpen area just inside the paid entrance at the end of Sherman Island levee road. It costs 4 bucks to get in, theres clean permanent outhouses, sandy beaches (at least when the tide is not high) and the wind is warm. I see lots of tiny kids there. Some floating around on boards with parents holding them. But you have to keep your eyes open for the freestylers busting moves inside. Theyre pretty good about staying upwind or further out, so just stay close to the shallow area. Again, it can be unpleasant in 4.5 conditions or better.

Also nearby is Windy Cove, which is a very nice park right across from Brannon Island State park. If you want to spend the weekend, reserve a campsite there, its very comfortable camping, but the wind does blow all night when its good. The good thing about the delta sites is that the wind is always pretty warm, unless it nukes, but anyone not on a board is miserable in those conditions.

Also, you might try Bodega at the Yacht Club, Rod & Gun Club at the base of the Richmond Bridge on the Marin Side. Even Larkspur can work for kids.

Regardless of where you go, if Dad is happy, then you will probably need to bundle up.

Steve

[carl]

Probably Berkeley is best, the picnic table/lawn area (near the launch dock) is usually sunny/shade and mostly out of the wind.
Alameda has a nice beach
but usually fairly low wind on the water, some kites. Coyote has a beach and swim area but is pretty windy unless youre back away from the beach plus you cant sail from the park swim area. Pt Isabel is a nice big dog park, if you have a dog.
Are mother and baby required every time you sail?, if so I think you may be in trouble, most sites are windy on shore too if its windy out on the water.

[GShannon]

Thanks for all the advice!

[landis]

Berkeley Marina has a really cool playground where kids can build forts, paint and slide down a long pulley ropes course. Its always a win/win(d) for my family