Saving on sailing

Windward Sailing Club offers inexpensive membership and rental fees for those who can’t afford, or want to avoid, the high costs of owning a yacht. You don’t have to be a millionaire to take a $200,000 yacht for a weekend trip to Catalina. In fact, if you know how to sail, all you need is a few hundred bucks.

In the face of high yacht and moorage prices, one Newport Beach sailing club makes the yachting dream attainable for everyone, not just those with deep pockets.

For 27 years, the Windward Sailing Club on Lido Isle has offered members affordable access to a fleet of boats. Less than $200 buys a monthly membership; for an additional daily fee, members can use any of the 18 available boats.

With nearly 300 members and growing, the club is a popular way to enjoy a yacht without the hefty price tag, said owner Larry Morgan.

“I’m giving them an opportunity without the giant expense,” said Morgan, Costa Mesa resident and lifelong sailor.

“It’s a good entry-level avenue into the sailing world,” Morgan said.

A large percentage of the monthly dues goes into a “sailing bank,” from which members can pull to purchase days or weeks aboard any of the 16 yachts, one electric boat or a troller.

The prices vary -- from $55 to $420 per day -- depending on the boat. The boats come in all sizes, from 28 feet to 44 feet and range in value from $18,000 to $200,000.

Before setting sail on any of the Windward yachts, members must prove their seaworthiness during an evaluation. But those who don’t know how to sail aren’t at a loss -- the club offers a 16-hour sailing course, led by three licensed skippers.

Once certified, members can embark on sailing expeditions within a 100-mile radius of Newport Beach. The boats are all insured and equipped with Vessel Assist -- the American Automobile Assn. of boating.

“I couldn’t make it any easier for people to go sailing,” Morgan said.

After boating, the member is only responsible for coiling up the lines and putting on the sail cover -- the Windward team takes care of the rest, including fueling and cleaning.

“We call it dock and walk,” Morgan said.

The Windward Sailing Club isn’t the only club that rents boats for a membership fee -- there are several similar operations in Newport.

Although his profit margin may not be as high as other clubs, Morgan said his goal is to provide members with a flawless fleet, always at the ready.

“We pride ourselves on the boats,” Morgan said.

When Morgan took ownership of Windward more than five years ago, the club wasn’t in the best shape, he said. Since then he’s made some improvements -- mainly increasing the fleet and boosting the maintenance quality.

“The best thing about this place is what he’s done for the club,” said Jeff Broering, the club’s dock master, who helps members navigate in and out of the slips.

Morgan employs a full-time dock crew, including a boat mechanic and a varnisher, dedicated to keeping the boats in tip-top shape.

“I have to keep them looking good year-round,” said varnish guru Dana Frank.20060120itd57lncMARK DUSTIN / DAILY PILOT(LA)Larry Morgan, owner of Windward Sailing, sits on the bow of Night Flyer’s, a 35-foot Hunter, one of 18 boats in his company’s fleet.