SIGHTINGS calling all sailing instructors It's time and then some for Northern California (or Area G) to refresh its bench of Instructor Trainers under the mantle of US Sailing. Northern California has a shortage, and the shortage hampers our ability bring up the Level 1 high school and college-age kids that, every year, we place on the front lines of youth sailing programs. US Sailing will help us run a full course this winter or spring — by the way, this is a big deal — if we are able to produce eight instructor trainer candidates with the experience, skill and knowledge that give them a good chance to succeed. Our Bay Area sail training organizations, from yacht club youth racing programs to public-access sail training organizations, are committed to a multiyear initiative to build the bench and improve our capacity for teaching youth to sail, to race, to become leaders and problem solvers. If you are an experienced instructor ready to step up to the next level, if you know that person, or if you just want to know more, email Rich Jepsen at richardjepsen@gmail.com. — kimball livingston
Clean Oceans International began as the Clean Ocean Project, which worked with Albany High School (inset photo) between 2012 and 2015 to survey and clean up a section of shoreline in the East Bay. Spread: Sailing Captain Jim 'Homer' Holm, who calls himself a Santa Cruz Boy, has worked since 2008 to find solutions to ocean plastic pollution.
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boats for a song Are you looking for a bargain boat, fixer-upper or a pile of gear? Wind Toys in Santa Rosa — a certified Hobie and trailerable Catalina dealer and proliferator of people learning to sail for more than 30 years — is moving. "We lost our lease to the pot-growing industry," said owner John Schulthess. There is no doubt some irony here that we don't have time to go into, because Wind Toys is having a massive clearance sale with prices ranging from moderate, cheap and free. It's perfect for people looking to get their feet wet in the sport. "There's just all kinds of stuff here," Schulthess said. "I've got masts and