Located on the south side of the Berkeley Marina, CSC's major activity is teaching sailing and boating safety to its members. The boats are also available to members for recreational sailing, cruising, and racing. All activities are free to members - there are no charges for lessons, cruises, or boat use beyond the initial membership fee.
Qualified members can bring non-member friends out sailing as their guests.
Instruction, maintenance, and administration are all done by volunteer members. The Cal Sailing Club is not part of the University of California. CSC's only affiliation with U.C. is historical, having evolved from the U.C. Yacht Club that was formed in the 1940s. The U.C. Aquatic Center, which occupies the site immediately to the east of CSC, is a separate facility run by Cal Adventures and the University of California. A lesson takes about an hour, with one instructor and three students in the boat.