Sailing since 1987

A small group of enthusiastic sailors of all ages, sailing in the North State, socializing, teaching and racing!
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Welcome to Butte Sailing Club, located on the Thermalito North Forebay in Oroville, CA (physical address: 930 Garden Drive @ Hwy 70). The Club is a comfortable place to learn about sailing, engage in spirited racing, and enjoy one another's company both on and off the water. Consider joining us at any of our club events and please consider becoming a member! We welcome guest boats and crew. The Club encourages prospective members with sailboats of all types, as well as those who may be just looking for a terrific way to spend time on the water.

Our History 

The Club's formative first meeting was in late November 1987. There were 33 charter members, who formed the club for the express purpose of provide sailing instruction to the community, day sailing opportunities, and race events.  The Club teamed with the Feather River Recreation and Park District (FRRPD) and taught over 500 students to sail in the first decade. The partnership with FRRPD continues to this day. In 1994 the BSC was appointed a permanent member of the Oroville Recreation Advisory Committee (ORAC). The committee oversees the recreation upgrades to the Lake Oroville State Recreation Area, which included building of the first Aquatic Center in 1985.

The club currently has seventy-six members. The club income comes from an annual membership fee, lessons, and dry storage for member boats in the boatyard. Club events include day sailing, club racing, lessons, and workshops.

BSC in the Forebay

The BSC clubhouse is a two-story 2400 square foot metal building in the locked boatyard next to the boat ramps.  The clubhouse includes a sail loft, office area, dry kitchen and refrigerator, a tool bench, and open area for meetings. The club fleet is built around Vagabond 14s (8 boats) and Lasers (six boats).  Other club boats include a Vagabond 17, five Hobie catamarans, a Hunter 18, O’Day 17, and …(add ‘others’ or list more boats). The boats are used for lessons and by members who have completed a checkout that includes rigging, sailing, and safety. Many club members elect to store their personal boat in the boatyard. 

About the Thermalito Forebay

The Thermalito Forebay North is part of the Lake Oroville State Recreation Area.  Constructed between 1965 and 1968, the Forebay is an offstream reservoir that provides regulatory storage and surge damping for the Hyatt-Thermalito power complex and serves as a popular recreational site (visit the Forebay map).  Its regulated water level varies by less than two feet over the year and the average depth exceeds eight feet.  Water temperatures in the summer rise above 75oF while dropping below 60oF in the winter. The Fore­bay fea­tures 300 sur­face acres of water, a 200-yard swim­ming area with a sandy beach, and plen­ty of shade. There are men’s and wom­en’s dress­ing rooms, flush toi­lets, a drink­ing foun­tain, and a dis­abled-acces­si­ble fish­ing pier. There are 117 tables, large and small shared BBQ grills, addi­tion­al pic­nic sites near the Fore­bay Aquat­ic Cen­ter, and a trail that cir­cles the lagoon.
The Fore­bay is reserved exclu­sive­ly for sail­boats, canoes, kayaks, pad­dle boards, and oth­er non-pow­er dri­ven boats. The grav­el boat launch clos­es at sundown.  Dogs are pro­hib­it­ed on the beach and turf areas.  Two paved boat ramps are avail­able: one with 2 lanes and one with 3 lanes.

 
BSC Board and Directors - 2024

Commodore - Tom Barrett - commodore@buttesailingclub.org
Vice-Commodore - Rich Reiner - rich.reiner@gmail.com
Treasurer - Montana Masters  - monatanamasters@sbcglobal.net
Secretary - Bryan Graves - cbgraves4224@gmail.com
Staff Commodore - Mark Conry - mconry3@gmail.com
Membership & Bookkeeper - Melissa Pasquale - membership@buttesailingclub.org
Communications & Website - Kurt Flint - webmaster@buttesailingclub.org
Facilities - Greg Hardt - hardtlandscape@gmail.com
Safety Coordinator - Wilson Newman

Feather River Center

 In 2017, four cooperating recreation groups banded together to unify outdoor education and recreational activities at the Forebay Aquatic Center.the Butte Sailing Club,  the Table Mountain Rowing Club, the  Chico State Rowing Club, and Outdoor Education for All! became the Feather River Center (FRC), a new voice for education, recreation, competitive water sports, boating and water safety, and tourism for Oroville.

BSC Club Members on the FRC Board
Jordan Reed, Feather River Center Representative -  info@buttesailingclub.org
Charlene Smith, Feather River Center Representative - smithch_2000@yahoo.com