Senior sailing club adds new boat

Yacht club members aren’t the only ones who get excited about a new boat.

The Oasis Sailing Club in Newport Beach, a recreational and social group for senior citizens, welcomed a vessel to its fleet Friday afternoon.

A 2005 Catalina 34 MKII arrived at the Balboa Yacht Basin from Long Beach. It will soon be available for use by the club’s 150 members.

“It’s a real find for a club like ours,” Commodore John Whitney said in a statement.

Volunteers will help maintain the group’s two boats. The newly acquired yacht is expected to be christened Oasis VI. The group declined to disclose details of the purchase.

In a town dominated by pricey yacht clubs, the Oasis group aims to offer an affordable option for seniors who want to sail.

“These aren’t your typical seniors; they’re pretty active people,” spokesperson Chris Bassett said.

Club membership costs $18 a month. To join, members also must belong to Friends of Oasis, which costs $10 annually for a single membership, an amount that helps fund senior center activities. They also pay $18 per sail — “very reasonable” for a day on a boat, Bassett said.

Members meet monthly, enjoy social events and sail most days of the year. The boats must be reserved by a trained skipper and a mate, but the crew does not need to be certified.

“They can just get on the boat and enjoy themselves, Bassett said.