As the rain clouds passed over Lake Washington on a Thursday afternoon, dropping bursts of showers across the shores, a J/22 sailboat skimmed the water.

Undeterred by the weather, Anne Alberg and Sandy Miller glided in the surf on one of the Neptune Sailing Club’s four boats. As members of the club, the duo showed up to the clubhouse – affectionately known as the Cave – picked their boat and signed out.

“I think the niche they can provide, and to have access to these boats in our backyard is just great,” said Alberg, who just joined the club this year.

For a one time initiation fee and yearly dues, members have access year round to the boats in this club based at the Kirkland Marina. Started in the 1960’s and capped at 85 members, the club all but guarantees people will be able to use a boat when they want. The club has four boats, two J/22s and two Catalina 22’s, all available to members.

“There is no waiting list, no ability to reserve boats or anything like that except for formal racing program,” said Philippe Lindheimer, a club member of over five years. “You come down and check out a boat, say when you’re leaving and when you’re coming back. We analyze the logs every year. In a bad year, we find that theoretically there are a couple times that people could have showed up and there wouldn’t have been a boat available, but it doesn’t actually happen.”

David Lombard, a member for three years and life long sailer who lives just up the hill from the marina, says he never sees all the boats out.

“I don’t ever see them all gone, I live right above here and I never see it,” he said. Lombard said the club was a great fit for him, after he sold his boat and missed being able to get on the water easily.

While the club is typically full, Lindheimer said every year there are maybe a couple spots open, but quickly get snatched up. With the membership, Lindheimer said, comes a training course, allowing even total novices to join and be confident at the end of training.

“Basically, we’re really big on training and safety,” said Lindheimer, who has served on the club’s board. “We’re a family oriented, kind of day sailing thing, and we really care about our boats, so therefore we’re probably boarding on obsessive with making sure that for both the people’s safety and the boats safety, people know what they are doing.”

He said of every 20 people who join, there might be one person who doesn’t need to be trained, but those people will still get a solid 10 hours of time to learn about the club practices and technics they use.

“I can attest to that,” said Lombard. “I’ve been sailing my whole life and thought I knew everything, then I joined the club and Dave (Mauer, who runs the club’s training program), who is an absolute treasure, he had some man-overboard procedures I’d never seen before and I learned a lot from him.”

Alberg said 10 years ago she went out with a friend who was a member of the club, and now has come back as she’s made the move into teaching sailing lessons and is going through the process of getting all the necessary credentials. She added that hands down, having just gone through the training, it was truly impressive how thorough it was.

“Their level of training is far more in depth and you come out with a very substantial level of knowledge,” said Alberg, who is a life long sailor. It’s an area of the club everyone agrees is top notch.

“It’s probably I would venture to say the absolute, best, most thorough keel boat training program that’s available in the Puget Sound outside of private lessons,” he said. “They do five – at a minimum – Saturday morning’s of training and then they can optionally stay an extra couple hours in the afternoon. Plus the club will pair people up who are learning to go out and get more. We’ll pair them out to get more on the water practice. Eventually they have to take a pretty thorough practical exam with one of the instructors. Bottom line, it’s a great way to learn. People are confident once they go out.”

club fees include the one time initiation fee of $1,000, which the club puts in a fund for new boats. Members also pay an annual fee of $600, but if they choose to pay it all at once in January, get a 10 percent discount.

“Probably three-quarters of people pay in January,” said Lindheimer.

The club is filled largely with families, Lindheimer said, but also some individuals and couples. Most quickly find the club is a great way to keep in touch with their love of sailing, without worrying about the many extras that come with it, like moorage fees and maintenance. The club gets together twice a year for work parties, which is when most of the maintenance on the boats is taken care of.

“Virtually we have all the work done at a spring and fall work party and usually a quarter to a third of the club shows up, so that’s when we do all the boat maintenance,” said Lindheimer. “There’s a few things you have to bring them to the boat yard for, but as a result, all the boats are kept up really nice.”

Lindheimer said the club is working on increasing the social aspect of the group, which now includes a women’s sailing social group, started by one of the clubs members. Another big aspect of the club is racing, which anyone can take part in if they are a member. Throughout the summer the club members take part in the Friday race series on the lake with the J/22’s.

Beyond all the fringe benefits is the simply joy of getting on the water, whether it’s sunny and 70 degrees or a more typical Washington day, members are on the water.

Lindheimer said throughout the year, it’s rare – even in the cold winter months– if the boats don’t go out at least several times a month. That’s a club with members who love what they do.

Learn more about the Neptune Sailing Club online.