San Francisco Sailing Science Center

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San Francisco Sailing Science Center The San Francisco Sailing Science Center is an interactive science museum, framed around sailing.

Our annual San Francisco Sailing Science Center fundraiser gala is sold-out! h
10/22/2026

Our annual San Francisco Sailing Science Center fundraiser gala is sold-out!

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Learning doesn't happen only at a desk—sometimes the most effective way to understand a complex idea is when you can exp...
10/18/2026

Learning doesn't happen only at a desk—sometimes the most effective way to understand a complex idea is when you can experiment through trial and error.

When kids have hands-on time with STEM and aspects of science, they aren't just memorizing ideas; they are testing how objects of different weight, size and density move thru water and sand.

Let young learners experiment, observe and tackle lessons on their own, and they often walk away with a better understanding and a boost to confidence.

Fall brings shifting wind patterns and cooler air masses to the Bay Area. Phenomenon 1While air temperatures and dayligh...
10/14/2026

Fall brings shifting wind patterns and cooler air masses to the Bay Area.

Phenomenon 1
While air temperatures and daylight hours begin dropping rapidly after September, water holds onto heat much longer than air due to its high specific heat capacity. October typically averages around 60°F to 64°F in the Bay, marking a transition period where the water is actually near its annual heat peak or just beginning its steady descent toward winter lows (which drop into the low 50s by December/January).

Phenomenom 2
This thermal inertia means the Bay acts as a giant heat sink, buffering the local climate even as autumn winds pick up.

Phenomenon 3
We tend to get strong October winds and massive tidal exchanges (where millions of gallons of water rush in and out under the Golden Gate Bridge) mix the shallow margins of the Bay with colder, deeper Pacific Ocean water.

What does this mean for sailors?
Sailors and marine creatures experience rapid vertical and horizontal mixing layers. A change in the tide can bring a sudden drop or spike in water temperature, significantly changing local micro-climates on the water.


📷️ https://bartable.bart.gov/featured/celebrate-bay-day-throughout-october

10/12/2026

The mechanics of propulsion in miniature: visitors of all ages observe firsthand how airflow circulates dynamically around a pair of sails in this mini model.

This Sailing Science Center interactive exhibit brings the fundamental physics of sailing to life--it's our Desk Breeze display.

🎥 SSC / Jim Hancock; no sound in this clip

We're jumping thru all hoops in anticipation of this year's Sailing Science Center gala.Speaker:Olympian Molly Vandemoer...
10/09/2026

We're jumping thru all hoops in anticipation of this year's Sailing Science Center gala.

Speaker:
Olympian Molly Vandemoer with a presentation that will go inside training regimens and preparations for the 2028 LA Olympics.

A former Olympian and match racing competitor, Molly is currently Director of Olympic Sailing and Board Member at US Sailing. She was most recently the Executive Director of the Peninsula Youth Sailing Foundation.

Food and Drink:
Hor d'oeuvres and beverages

Play:
Get plenty of hands-on time with our exhibits

Date:
Thursday, October 29, 2026
6:30PM to 9PM

Place:
San Francisco Yacht Club, Belvedere

Information and tix: https://lnkd.in/e-c2Gmtz

The Sailing Science Center opens the world of sailing through hands-on STEM discovery. Our mobile exhibits bring science to life through the lens of sailing — in schools, youth sailing programs and community spaces, often reaching low-income schools and marginalized communities.

Science Center is a 501(c)(3) California non-profit.
📷️ One of our adult leaders cannot take her eyes of the ball. What's she doing? Come find out--this is one of our most popular hands-on STEM learning exhibits.

Olympian Molly Vandemoer will be the keynote speaker at the Sailing Science Center's 2026 Gala: Sailing Into the Future....
10/06/2026

Olympian Molly Vandemoer will be the keynote speaker at the Sailing Science Center's 2026 Gala: Sailing Into the Future. Her presentation will take us inside training regimens and preparations for the 2028 LA Olympics, and more.

A former Olympian and match racing competitor, Molly is currently Director of Olympic Sailing and Board Member at US Sailing. She was most recently the Executive Director of the Peninsula Youth Sailing Foundation.

Thursday, October 29, 2026
6:30 to 9 PM
San Francisco Yacht Club, Belvedere

More information and tix: https://givebutter.com/c/SSC2026Gala

The Sailing Science Center opens the world of sailing through hands-on STEM discovery. Our mobile exhibits bring science to life through the lens of sailing — in schools, youth sailing programs and community spaces, often reaching low-income schools and marginalized communities.

Science Center is a 501(c)(3) California non-profit.

science

Kelvin waves are raising the sea level along the West Coast West Coast sea levels are projected to rise by up to a foot ...
10/04/2026

Kelvin waves are raising the sea level along the West Coast

West Coast sea levels are projected to rise by up to a foot over the coming months as a series of warm-water Kelvin waves move northward, driven by historic El Niño conditions. While these pulses aren't standalone flood events, they elevate baseline sea levels—amplifying risks from king tides, winter storms and coastal erosion across California, Oregon and Washington.

They're common during El Niño events, but this year's super El Niño could intensify the impacts, experts say.

As coastal communities and marine infrastructure face mounting vulnerabilities, proactive preparation, climate resilience planning, and robust adaptation strategies are more critical than ever.

Read the full report on PBS News. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/what-to-know-about-the-kelvin-wave-raising-the-sea-level-along-the-west-coast

For the intersection of science and sailing, two of the core concepts we talk about with our learners are:Bernoulli’s Pr...
10/04/2026

For the intersection of science and sailing, two of the core concepts we talk about with our learners are:

Bernoulli’s Principle: Explains how fluid velocity and pressure are inversely related—faster air means lower pressure.

Newton’s Third Law of Motion: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. As the sail bends and redirects the incoming wind, the air pushes back on the sail, generating forward thrust.

Sailing Science Center 2026 Gala: Sailing into the FutureJoin friends, supporters and community leaders for an evening o...
09/28/2026

Sailing Science Center 2026 Gala: Sailing into the Future

Join friends, supporters and community leaders for an evening of connection, discovery and impact. Explore interactive exhibits, enjoy premium hors d’oeuvres and beverages and see how our team brings STEAM learning to life.

$180 pp
Venue: San Francisco Yacht Club 98 Beach Road
Belvedere, CA 94920

Tickets: https://lnkd.in/e-c2Gmtz
Photo: A past year's guest considers the wide variety of items up for bid.

Take Sailing and Science into your GarageLearning focus: density & buoyancy with a foil hull boatWhat you need:* Aluminu...
09/27/2026

Take Sailing and Science into your Garage
Learning focus: density & buoyancy with a foil hull boat

What you need:
* Aluminum foil (cut into equal squares, about 6x6 inches or 12x18 inches)
* A large container, tub or sink filled with water
* Set of small waterproof weights (pebbles, pennies, paper clips or marbles)
* Paper and pencil to record predictions and results
* Towels for clean up

What to do:
Cut several equal-sized squares of aluminum foil, then shape them into different hull designs—a flat raft, a deep bowl a canoe shape, a catamaran.

Place each, one by one, in the water and slowly add pennies until each sinks.

What's the science?
This demonstrates buoyancy and displacement. Hulls with more volume and stable walls displace more water and can hold more weight before capsizing.



🤳 https://discovere.org/engineering-activities/foil-boats/

Address

39 Treasure Island Road, Ste 16A
San Francisco, CA
94130

Telephone

+15103905727

Website

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