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!

unbelievable.. Good place to learn to windsurf, sail, boats,…read more the price is like !20/ 3 months,, includes boats and lessons and paddle boards and kayaks, in the Summer there are Fast tracks lots of helpful teachers, volunteers,

The best place to learn sailing windsurfing in the Bay area. Great people great spot very cheap…read morejust perfect in every way

A first-class sailing experience with Captain Doug…read more We booked Taihoa for a group of four and couldn't recommend it more highly. From the first email months out, Captain Doug was a fantastic communicator. Our original plan (a friend's 40th) changed, and he graciously converted our booking into a certificate without any hassle -- that flexibility set the tone for the whole experience. Taihoa herself is something special. Doug took real time before we cast off to walk us through her history and design -- a hand-built 1940s wooden classic -- and it gave the whole day a depth you don't get on a standard charter. Once we were underway, he even let us help sail her out of the harbor and into the bay, which was genuinely the highlight for us. We had a beautiful day of sun and wind, plenty of room for four, and at no point did we feel anything but safe and well looked after. If you love sailing -- or just want a memorable day on the water -- book with Doug. (And bring sunscreen!)

We had a fantastic sail with Captain Doug. It was an extremely windy day, but despite the cold and…read morewind, we had a delightful time. The boat is beautiful and Captain Doug was friendly and knowledgeable about the boat and the area. Loved learning about some of the history. Would sail again!

10 stars if I could add more stars here. My kids have been attending Alameda Community Sailing…read moreCenter's summer camp for years and it's honestly the highlight of their entire summer (and maybe the whole year). They're obsessed in the best way possible. Rain or shine, windy or calm, they wake up excited to hit the water. They started when they were 7 and 10 and 3 summers later they still love love love it! I pick them up and they jump in the car excited to tell me all about their sailing adventures on the water. The instructors are phenomenal and super knowledgeable, kind, encouraging, and safety-focused without being overly rigid. You can tell they genuinely love sailing and want to pass that passion on. My kids come home beaming, sun-kissed, full of stories, and with way more confidence than when they started. And let's talk life skills...this camp teaches independence, teamwork, problem-solving, resilience, and respect for nature, all while they're having an absolute blast on the water. It's not just a camp, it's a community. My kids have made real friendships here and look forward to reuniting with their "sailing crew" every year. We feel lucky to have ACSC in our lives. If you're even thinking about signing up just do it. Your kids will thank you, and you'll be amazed at how much they grow (and how fast they learn to sail!). My son (now 12) and I rented a Feva boat (12 foot boat) this past weekend and he took ME sailing out on that gorgeous bay. This place is a total gem.

Our 13 yo son just finished his 5th year of sailing and he still loves it. It's all day working…read morewith another sailor planning a goal, assessing risk, going for it, trouble shooting, dealing with challenges and failure and working together to get back on track and successfully navigating to your goal. Feeling the breeze in your hair, going fast and getting wet. Last year he sailed to Treasure Island, I couldn't believe it! This year he sailed to SFO. There's always a motor boat nearby. The teens though have to make most decisions on their own and execute their plan. My son said he felt like he conquered something looking at the map and seeing how far he went. He gained a confident understanding of his ability to learn and apply his skills to a challenge that he had previously thought was out of reach.

My friends and I have charters the Hullachal twice in the last two years and every time we have an…read moreamazing time. It is the perfect getaway right here at home.

This is the first time we have used Passage Nautical and we loved it! We chartered a beautiful 48'…read moreBeneteau sailboat. Capt George and Lika the first mate were outstanding. LIka was an amazing hostess and made sure we had drinks in our hand at all times and served our wonderful catered food (from Market Hall caterers). Boat was in pristine condition, Capt George made sure to sail around the scenic parts of the bay and always kept us up to date on the wind conditions and answered any questions. Would also like to call out Deb Reynolds, the owner of Passage Nauticals and Dina the manager. They were always so responsive to our emails and requests to ensure that all details were taken care of for our amazing day on the bay!

Dinner with a beautiful view, welcoming staff and delicious food is what makes South Beach Yacht…read moreClub our favorite in the Bay Area. You need to be a member or guest of a member to enter the Yacht Club.

Was here for a private event. The venue was nice. Had a great view of the bay and the bay bridge…read more Has outdoor seating. Tables for outdoor seating is rather worn and could use some epoxy to cover up that MDF wood that snags on clothes when it comes on contact. Seating inside was also pretty good. There was a bench by a window towards one of the entrances. Could probably use a good cleaning. A tad dirty. $21 for a burger and fries. Over seasoned with salt and pepper in my opinion. Would be really good if that was scaled back a bit. Also has a smoking area towards the back on the deck. I think it's a designated area which I thought was nice bc no one is trying to smell someone else's bad habits and die secondhand.

Carlos and Sophie were incredible hosts on their catamaran the BluReverie. Our group had an amazing…read moreweekend trip and we're pleasantly surprised by the quality of food, drink, and hospitality! Highly recommend taking your next weekend getaway on the BluReverie for an unforgettable experience!!

From the owner: Located in the heart of Silicon Valley in Redwood City, BluReverie Catamaran is just minutes from…read morethe tech headquarters with easy access from all South Bay locations. Whether a day sail, lunch, dinner, or weekend escape, BluReverie can be the ideal team retreat, special occasions celebration, or vacation with friends and family. We typically host weekend overnight trips between the months of April - Oct in the San Francisco Bay, and we are planning overnight itineraries in Puerto Rico between the months of Nov - Mar. BluReverie has 5 guest cabins each with ensuite bathrooms. Three cabins are configured with queen beds (1 queen bed in each cabin) and two cabins with bunk beds (2 single beds in each cabin). BluReverie can accommodate 10 guests in 5 cabins, or up to 12 guests if you have small children sharing a cabin.