I grew up in a sailing family and loved going on sailing adventures as a kid. While I was helpful…read moreas crew, I knew that I wasn't yet experienced or knowledgeable enough to skipper myself. Given my past experience (and hubris!), I signed up for the 101/103 combo course that whittles 8 days of instruction into 5 days for "experienced" sailors. Little did I know that light-wind sailing in tropical climates is NOT the same thing as sailing in the San Francisco Bay! With 20+ knots of wind, high speed ferries, massive commercial tankers and barges, recreational sailboats, racers, motor boats, fishing boats, kayak/paddle boarders and strong currents, sailing the bay is no walk in the park. Thankfully, our fearless instructor Stephen Spoja guided us through coursework both on and off the boat covering a wide range of topics -- safety, preparation, navigation, nautical rules/regulations, (lots of) terminology, docking, and local knowledge. I haven't learned so much so quickly since my first job out of college. Anyone considering learning to sail in San Francisco Bay should without a doubt sign up for classes at Modern Sailing. Plus, after completing the 103 class you gain access to chartering ("renting" in sailing jargon) one of their sailboats for your own use on the bay anytime you'd like!

"Buoy" did we have a great time! Participated in a Corporate Regatta Teambuilding activity at…read moreModern Sailing School in Sausalito on 7/13/22. Started with bagged lunches (deli sandwiches), about 25 people total in our large group (international colleagues from North/South America and Europe, minus Australia). Out of the five boats, the female captain was the race director for the day and we had to navigate the differently-colored buoys floating in the water. Not all of the boats were identical (make/model, size, age?) so there was an adjustment/differential to the final times, but all were generally recent model monohull sailboats 30-45 feet long. Grey Goose, Ry Whitt, Survivor, Liberty, and one other boat I can't recall the name of (might've been Attitude Adjustment) were our racing sailboats for the afternoon regatta, teams of 4-5. I was assigned to Liberty, a beautiful 38-foot Beneteau. Our US Coast Guard certified captain/skipper from Modern Sailing School was Bill and also served as our tactician; one of our guys took the driver role/steering to telltales, and another was in charge of the mainsail. Another took one side for the jib sail and I took the other side depending on if we needed to tack or jib (gybe), our fifth person assisted where needed with ropes/wench handles, etc. The weather was fine -- the fog lifted and the sun came out making for great views of the Golden Gate Bridge, the San Francisco city skyline, the Bay Bridge, and Alcatraz. I'd done whitewater rafting and 2-person kayaking before, snorkeling and parasailing but this was my first time sailing! We had a little bit of time to practice and literally "learn the ropes" and fundamentals before the motor was turned off and the official race started at 1:00 PM. The two basic turning maneuvers/techniques with the skipper strategically navigating us through using the wind speed/direction (especially through Hurricane Gulch) and sea state/tides (smooth vs choppy water) was challenging but fun. Not only were we racing each other and trying to round our marks along the course, but there were of course other fishing boats, ferries, Hornblower cruise ships, windsurfers, and paddleboarders in the water too -- even saw a few seals! The race time on the water was around 2 hours for our team (keep in mind the boats were only traveling maybe 8 miles per hour) but lunch was included on land as well as an awards reception (beer/champagne, medals) for all of the teams afterward. We weren't first, but we weren't last either! If you're feeling "nauti" and the line where the sky meets the sea calls you, let your inner Moana/Maui try out wayfinding with the winds in your sails on the SF Bay at Modern Sailing School!

Josh is a real find if you are wanting to learn how to wing foil. He's got five amazing ingredients…read morethat come together: 1. He has a boat. When you are learning, you'll most likely get blown down wind but he will be right by your side ready to bring you back. 2. He has a launching point out of Paradise Cay which is as good a wing foiling location as you could hope for. 3. He's a great foiler himself so he knows what he's talking about. 4. He's a great teacher. And the walkie-talkie communication allows him to keep giving you guidance while you are out on the water. 5. He's super nice, cool and enthusiastic. A relaxed, fun dude and it's a pleasure to spend time on the water with him. Working with Josh exponentially accelerates the learning curve. I highly recommend having Josh guide you in your wing for healing journey.

We chartered Captain Josh's yacht for my birthday and we had THE BEST TIME! Seriously, best money…read morespent and best birthday celebration I've ever had. The boat and water were beautiful and the music set the tone for an amazing day. We even extended our trip because we didn't want it to end. Highly highly recommend!

What a beautiful day on the sailboat! The captain and crew were absolutely wonderful and made the…read moreentire experience enjoyable. The drinks and snacks were delicious, and the prices were very reasonable. The crew was friendly, interacted with all the guests, and even offered to take photos for everyone, which was such a thoughtful touch. I will definitely be returning in the future. Thank you to the captain and crew for providing such a wonderful and memorable experience!

San Fran locals or tourists. Don't miss out on Adventure Catamaran Sailing Charters. The captain…read moreand crew are OUTSTANDING. Boat is beautiful and best scenery ever out on the water. I think that was the 10th time I have been on this Adven Cat cruise and will go back again soon. Don't miss this sailing experience. Thanks again. We will be back ASAP!

Come aboard and find out for yourselves!…read more Very knowledgeable, professional, attentive and fun crew, and you'll experience breathtaking SF views and make lifelong memories. Full bar so Let's Go

We went out with Captain Larry, 1st mate Carliane, and 2nd mate Sofia this past Saturday and had…read morethe most amazing experience. The crew was professional, knowledgeable, friendly, and engaging. The weather couldn't have been better as about 30 of us motored around the SF Bay. Stellar 360 views of the area, whale sightings, and even got a glimpse of the famous troll on the underside of the Bay Bridge. A 5 star afternoon which none of us will soon forget. I know Frank was smiling down upon us! Thanks again, John Reilly

Got married on board "The Vouz" wonderful experience! Great crew. You won't regret it!read more

Booked a company celebration team event for 19 people through their website on the Yukon Jack. Drew…read morewas very responsive helping get this organized and all the paperwork filled out in advance. Great rendezvous location down by Oracle Park was super convenient for everyone. One we got underway, Drew and the crew were phenomenal at getting everyone comfortable to enjoy a fantastic two hour sail around the Bay. We had a great time and were able to catch some gusty winds that day once they put up the spinnaker. For this trip we went out around Treasure Island, under the new section of the Bay Bridge and further south, then back up along the city for some fantastic views. Everyone enjoyed our sailing event! Pro tip: If you want to sail out to Golden Gate Bridge, let them know when booking so you can organize an earlier departure than 2:00pm.

We had a fantastic time renting an electric Duffy boat for a two-hour cruise around Sausalito and…read morethe bay. The staff were so friendly and accommodating. Learning to drive the boat was simple, and you don't need a license to do it. We fit eight on a boat made for 12 and felt it was the perfect size. There was even a refrigerator on board to stow your drinks. It was the perfect venue for a sunny day!

I went with friends is Sept 25, apologies for late response. This was my 2nd time boating you and…read moreit was great as the last time. The staff are very friendly and informative. Made sure all needs were met before sending us off. Definitely making this an annual experience.

We had such a beautiful experience on our sail! The boat was spectacular and so smooth. The team…read morewas supportive and friendly. It was magical being out on the water and we felt so taken care of between the route, the catering, and the different features of the boat, in general. The crew even pivoted to allow us to sail into McCovey Cove to hear a surprise concert being held at the ball park that night. Highly recommend for any larger group or special event!

We had a great work event last fall onboard the Gas Light! The boat was beautiful and clean. The…read morecrew was attentive and allowed us to help pull the sails. When we boarded from Pier 40, we got a champagne toast, along with a group photo and short video, which made for a cheerful, relaxing welcome that set the mood for our 2-hour cruise in the bay. We ordered catered snacks, which was a good variety of savory and sweet options, along with an open bar up to a cap that we didn't reach. And this wonderful event was all executed with the help of their communicative staff within a modest budget that I had. Highly recommend for a work social event for a group of 35-40 people!

Can't say enough - we had a day-long lesson with Randall on our own boat. Randall was kind, very…read moreknowledgeable, and very patient - everything you'd want in a teacher. After one day, we're already feeling much more confident on the water. Very easy to book. Looking forward to working with the school for some more training.

A few months ago I got a sailing dinghy. After a couple of outings, it was clear that even in…read moremercifully light winds, I was making mistakes and I could use a boost up the learning curve, so I emailed J World about a private lesson, and Wayne answered and set me up for a four-hour lesson with Jasper. In the marina parking lot, Jasper and I first worked through some rigging issues I had not been able to figure out from the manual. Then we spent a couple of hours tacking and jibing in the Alameda Estuary while he showed me the tunings that the rig offers, played with weight distribution, and even tried out the trapeze. On the last couple of downwind legs, we got the gennaker up and gybed and snaked to build downwind speed. That was a stretch goal for the afternoon as far as I was concerned. I love the way Jasper is fearless about the possibility of an unplanned swim, and not too anxious about a newbie skipper making mistakes while he crews, all the way up to and including dumping the boat (which I almost did). He just makes corrections and suggestions matter-of-factly while all the time positioning his weight and tuning the sails with high expertise. Update: Jasper and I went out again for some good times in higher winds. This time we actually did dump the boat near the bridge pier just SW of Treasure Island. Jasper was as-usual cool about the whole thing. Turns out someone on land called us in while we were righting the boat, and we even got a friendly check-in from the Coast Guard as we were sailing away. My bad that wriggling into the boat over the transom shut my radio off. I'm sure they hailed us before coming out and I could have saved them a trip.