Become a Member

Memberships

The annual membership runs from January 1 to December 31. A person who joins after August 15 will have their membership extend to the end of the following year.

If a non-member decides to join the SBCSA at the end of their lesson session, the difference between the member and non-member lesson fee will be applied to their membership fee.

Benefits
Fees
Volunteering

Membership Benefits

Open Sailing

Association members and students who have completed half of their class may sail the training boats free of charge during the posted operating hours for Open Sailing. The facilities are open one evening per week. Additional times may be added if there is sufficient demand.

Participating in Open Sailing is a great way to practice the skills learned in a class or simply enjoy a relaxing, evening sail on the river. With no additional cost for members and students, Open Sailing is a very affordable way to enjoy the water. Members are often looking for others to sail with them so even if you don’t have a crew, come on down and team up with another member.

Keelboat Open Sailing

Keelboat Open Sailing sessions are designed to help members transition from sailing training boats in the river to sailing a larger boat on the Saginaw Bay. These sessions will not teach you to sail but will help increase your confidence sailing on the Bay. When members are ready, they can schedule a qualification sail in order to take advantage of our Independent Sailing program.

Keelboat Open Sailing takes place on Thursday evenings from 6p – 9p, weather permitting. The sail begins at 6p sharp and departs from the boat’s designated slip at Bay City Yacht Club.

Keelboat Open Sailing Requirements

Must register in advance by calling 989-778-0139 or email info@sbcsa.org. – Participants must be members of SBCSA – Three participants maximum per keelboat – Youth Intermediate Sailing, Adult Introduction to Sailing, or equivalent experience preferred. – Members under the age of 18 must have permission of the instructor and written consent of their parent or guardian.

In case of bad weather / sailing conditions, we will cancel and notify participants as early as possible.

Independent Sailing

For Association members with previous sailing experience or who have gained enough experience during lessons and Open Sailing, the SBCSA offers opportunities to sail on the lower Saginaw River and Saginaw Bay.

The Association keeps one boat, Capri 22, at Bay Harbor Marina near the mouth of the Saginaw River. These boats can be used by qualified members at any time: availability and weather conditions permitting.

To become qualified, members must pass a practical sailing test. To schedule a qualification test or to reserve your sailing time, call 989-778-0139 or email info@sbcsa.org. Check our calendar for availability.

With no additional fee for sailing these boats, this program is an absolute bargain that provides an inexpensive option to enjoy a morning, afternoon, or evening sail.