I grew up in a sailing family and loved going on sailing adventures as a kid. While I was helpful as 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! read more

"Buoy" did we have a great time! Participated in a Corporate Regatta Teambuilding activity at Modern 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! read more

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Back to 5, Cyril called and said he was sorry and my cancellation was legitimate. Wife had to fly to her dad as he was dying and I could not bring my kids to the class due to insurance issues. Gave me credit for future class and offered re-imbursement. Since their classes were great, I took the credit instead. read more

"I can't control the wind- but I can adjust the sails." Skaggs Modern Sailing school and club is located in the heart of Sausalito just off of Marinship way. Fabulous customer service and response time. The staff are all experienced and friendly instructors that hold US Coast Guard Licenses that represent decades of sailing experience. We took the Introductory Sail (a one-day sailing excursion). Our day started with a warm welcome onto our 38 foot sailboat! Our captain-Jaime was not only welcoming-but patient, professional, beyond knowledgable, and encouraging. He briefed us with an introduction to sailing , and we went to work. Once we cleared the harbor the sails went up, the wind filled the sails, and the boat leaned over ever so gracefully. It was a magical feeling to be gliding through the water. So exciting! I learned how to hoist and trim the sails as well as steer the sailboat. It was a beautiful day to sail and at the end of the day-our group acquired the basic understanding of sailing principles. We were also frozen but it was worth it. Definitely signing up for the certification. Tip: wear layers and layers of clothing. It gets really Cold! Bring gloves. read more

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Great instructors! Great community! Great place to sail! Very knowledgable and thorough.

Think twice. I was convinced to sign my wife and I up for ASA 101 because they promised everyone would get whatever help they needed to pass. That promise was largely untrue. I could tell that my wife was not understanding some critical points, but every time I tried to help her the instructor shut me down. He told me that "she will get it". Of course, she didn't and he failed her. To say she was devastated would be a great understatement. She poured her heart and soul into it but was let down by an instructor that couldn't understand what she needed AND wouldn't listen when I told him she was not understanding. The extra help promised? They wanted $500 to put her on the boat for a couple more hours with the same instructor! What an insult. My cruising dream was crushed. (A couple years later) Another Sausalito school told me that as long as she keeps trying, they will keep working with her at no extra cost. Now I need to convince her. Fingers crossed. read more

We organized a regatta and they were really wonderful to deal with. Leigh, Hind and the captains were fabulous! Highly recommend going out with them! Nicely maintained boats. read more

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I have taken multiple classes with Modern Sailing, and all 8 instructors were excellent: knowledgeable (as expected), as well as articulate and patient. In addition to teaching the classes' content, they all shared practical tips, learned from many years of sailing. Peter, Dave, Jaime, Stephan, etc. you are fantastic. Not to be forgotten, the office stuff is super friendly and helpful. Chartering boats is easy, and Modern Sailing offers a wide variety of boats for all tastes and crew sizes. Finally, its location is extremely convenient: you can be in the middle of the Bay in front of the Golden Gate bridge within 20 minutes of leaving the dock. Overall, Modern Sailing equates excellence across the board read more

Just finished the ASA 101 Basic Keelboat Sailing course through Modern Sailing School & Club. Our instructor was Mark Jordan. What a superb experience. Mark is extremely thorough, patient, and clearly passionate about teaching. Mark was so methodical in his approach to teaching, and truly made us feel like he cared about ensuring we understood the basics. He was happy to repeat, review, and demonstrate each step along the way. Sailing aside, it was a true pleasure meeting Mark, and having him as our instructor. Would highly recommend Modern Sailing, and if you can -get Mark as your instructor -you will not be disappointed! read more

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Passed my ASA 101 a few months ago with them. The instructors knew their stuff and were very patient and methodical with my group of aspiring sailors, the boats were in great condition and overall it was a ton of fun spending two weekends in a row on the sea. Would highly recommend this club to anyone looking to learn to sail or improve their skills: the community is great and the sailing is even better! read more

I am a 100 Ton USCG Master, but was not, by anybody's imagination.. a sailor. I'd never even helmed a sailboat this class. All my time on the water has been in power boats. So, I took this combo 101-103 course. OUTSTANDING. I got Stephen as the instructor. His light touch on the wheel of the sailboat was mirrored in his touch in instruction of the 4 (very different) students in my class. Pay particular attention to his "mindless ramblings." They prove to be not so mindless after all. I would recommend this course AND instructor to any and every one interested in learning to sail, and wanting to be able to charter a siailboat for day, or weekend, adventures in the Bay. BZ Spoja. read more

I had a decent amount of sailing experience before taking the ASA 101/103 combination course and still learned a TON. Dealing with MSC staff has been wonderful, and the instructor of my course, Richard, was easy going and a fantastic teacher. He teaches by letting you DO - only stepping in if you've gone astray. Because of his great instruction I feel like a confident sailor now, even on the hectic San Francisco Bay. After taking these courses I plan to join MSC as a member. It seems to be a super active club with courses and clinics happening all the time. Even during COVID there seem to be a lot of opportunities to sail. Can't imagine how active it will be once we're "back to normal" - whenever that may be. Also, I just read about all the clubs in the rest of the state that you get reciprocal privileges at. I think there are 11 total, and you get member rental rates at all of them. Stoked! read more

The very finest school and instructors! Best in the Bay! Possibly the world. Clean and well maintained vessels. And a nice variety of boats to choose from. I'm so glad I have taken all my instruction from Modern Sailing. A couple of weekends ago I anchored out and someone anchored near me and snagged my anchor chain. The other boat owner didn't seem to know what to do and looked to me for leadership. Staying calm and remembering my training , I brought both boats along side and we raised anchor chains at the same time till we could see his anchor, and un-foul it from my chain. In this moment I realized how important it is to have solid training as a foundation, like I got at Modern Sailing! read more

Modern Sailing School & Club - Boating Near Me - Sausalito, California

I just completed the ASA101/103 training last week and I have to say that our instructor Laura was excellent. The pre-course materials arrived very quickly and the student -trainer ratio was great with 3 of students per boat. The training was mostly on the water with some small amount of land based thory and compulsory ASA tests. Out on the water we all had plenty of time to develop our skills as both skipper and crew , rotating through the roles until we all felt confident. Our reward on the final day was perfect conditions for a sail out under the Golden Gate bridge.....all in all a priceless experience and highly recommended. read more

My partner Terre and I chose Modern Sailing School for learning to sail and it has proven a wise choice with talented (and patient) instructors, a remarkable selection of boats for all skill levels and reasonable club membership which allows us opportunities for enjoying day-long sailing on the Bay. We build personal confidence while playing with remarkable skippers and adventurous friends on club sails and have enjoyed taking friends and family out to enjoy the same experience. Last year we also enjoyed the sailing adventure of a lifetime on a club charter in Greece for 10 wonderful days with Leigh as our skipper ... so thanks to Modern's wonderful staff and members who bring such support and adventure to ou lives. read more

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I've now completed ASA 101 and 103 and boy am I glad I did it with Modern Sailing. I met other students that had taken their 101 classes at different schools and they were much father behind than those who had taken the course at Modern. My instructor Peter for ASA 101 was exceptional as well! read more

I took Basic Keelboard and Coastal cruising when John Connolly was the owner. I thoroughly enjoyed the classes, students and instructor. Also as a member I attended videos and John Connolly speaking of the world travels of the sailing members. Especially the trip to Egypt and the huge monkey's there. He was always a Good Morning type and helpful with a great staff including an olympian sailor. All great friends and helpful. read more

This is the best sailing club in SF Bay! I took lessons from ASA 101 to 118 and now am able to rent anywhere in the world on catamarans up to 46 feet. Where ever you go sailing in the world, being able to sail and that you got your certificates on the SF Bay, makes you qualify as an Expert Sailor at all the Moorings facilities in the world. The instructors are the best I have ever met and really want everyone to succeed. read more

Fantastic place to learn to sail. I'd been a guest on a sailboat 2-3 times but otherwise was a complete novice who wanted to learn, and now I'm American Sailing Association certified to rent and captain boats up to 35 feet. I signed up for the weeklong ASA 101/103 combined course through Modern Sailing. The instructor clearly had sailing in his blood and, like the rest of the staff, was friendly, knowledgeable and patient. In the boats we're sailing, there's plenty of room for small errors and learning how to fix them as you go out on the water. Be prepared: You are going to be on the water 6-8 hours a day learning practical sailing from the get-go, with plenty of after-hours reading homework (when you're exhausted) that you'll be tested on to earn your certificates. I highly recommend reading all the books they give you, cover to cover, before you start the class. They'll be complete nonsense the first time through, but when you read them again as you go through the week, it'll all be review. No reason not to ace your written tests, and you'll feel more competent on the boat as well. I've already used my skills to crew on a J/22 and may work my way into Friday Night Racing. There's also no doubt I'll take the ASA 104/114 combined course so that I can overnight charter and sail catamarans (perhaps both!) in international waters. BVI? Croatia? Here I come. read more

Modern sailing is an exceptional place for nice folks to learn to sail. Bill is a fantastic instructor and does a great job of helping each person in the class learn at his or her own pace. I'd recommend a fair amount of sailing experience (at least 25 days on the bay) and a genuine commitment to going beyond floating as crew on other people's boats before enrolling in the challenging 101-103 course. True beginners who just want to give sailing on the bay a try should look exclusively to the 101 course. Highest possible recommendation! read more

I met MSC about a couple of years ago when a friend of a friend took us out for a ride on one of the club's sailboats. I really enjoyed the experience that day, so when I finally decided to start sailing on my own I contacted MSC and signed up right away. Now I can say I made the right choice. I recently took ASA101 & 103 at MSC and can't wait to sign up for ASA 104. Everyone at MSC, from instructors to the office staff and other members have made me felt as part of the MSC family since the very first day. It has also been a delightful surprise for me to find out the numerous social activities that the club organizes almost every week (bbq's, club sailing days, ...). I'm very much looking forward to improving my sailing skills with MSC! read more

Modern Sailing School & Club - Sailing under the Golden Gate during our ASA103 class at MSC - Boating Near Me - Sausalito, California

I've been a member for almost a year and have taken several courses, gone on club sails and chartered boats. They are friendly, have great service, and have well maintained boats (of course the beginner class Catalina 30s are well worn). It's a great little club with a good vibe. It is easy to find crew on any day of the week by posting to the eclectic group of members. read more

Took 105/106 combo course with Stan as the instructor. Can't say enough positive. He has a wealth of experience, talent, patience and a unique ability to convey the material at just the right pace of the student. Each person learns rapidly. Modern sailing itself is equally great with very good selection of boats and awesome location to access the San Francisco Bay. read more

Modern Sailing School is a great place for beginners and anyone who is seeking to advance their knowledge of sailing. After four classes, my husband and I were ASA 101'certified, and our instructor allowed us to take the boat for a cruise around Alcatraz! The wonderful thing is that we felt comfortable and confident doing it, which was a testament to our instructor, Jaime's, teaching. I highly recommend Morden Sailing School, and I am looking forward to morn classes and adventures. read more

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If you're looking to either learn how to sail or charter a sailboat, Modern Sailing is the way to go. No need to buy/own/maintain your own boat when you have Modern Sailing's fleet at your disposal! I took 3 classes at Modern Sailing. Steve was my instructor for 101 and 104, and he was very knowledgeable and super clear in his instruction. During the 104 class, we moored at Angel Island one night and anchored in Sausalito. Sailing around the bay at night is pretty exhilarating. Stephen (not to be confused with Steve!) was my instructor for 103, and he was also awesome. I don't know many people who can keep so calm around a bunch of inexperienced people learning how to operate a 10,000 pound boat! Overall, the classes have given me the confidence and skills to sail a 30'-40' boat safely. I've chartered a boat from the club 6 or 7 times now. The booking process is simple, the boats are generally in good shape, and the folks who work there are kind and helpful. read more

I purchased 3 classes at Modern Sailing. This organization was recommended by a close friend who enrolled in the school and later became an instructor at a competitor in the south bay. I have been sailing on and off for 40 years the spaces in between had left me rusty and unprepared for a trip that I will be taking in 2017.The prices were reasonable and the people very welcoming. After the first day after the first class there is a welcoming party afterwards. I really enjoy everyone and this is a great social place to meet people. After being on a boat for two weekends together, lasting friendships really appear. So far I have taken two classes and they have been taught by Jeff who himself was once a student and many years later became an instructor. I like his style because he teaches with a hands-on approach with quizzes about every 45 minutes. He believes in repetition which works well with my brain. The quizzes really hammer in the information. It takes a while for the sailing to be second nature, but Jeff's methodology works for me. He is knowledgeable and patient for all students. He never yells, always is calm, and quietly manages issues. Basically, every moment I was learning something about sailing. Maybe things were a bit overwhelming in the beginning, but by the end of the 1st class I felt confident with what he taught me. Modern Sailing has boats for all levels for teaching and chartering. From older yet clean and in great condition 30 plus foot boats, to almost new boats. They even have a couple of catamarans. Modern Sailing is a great choice for a place to learn, make friends, socialize and become an expert all at a great price! read more

I just completed my ASA101 Introduction to sailing class at Modern Sailing and loved it! The facility was great and easy to use with plenty or parking, a nice park with a view of the water, and easy access to the docks. My instructor Steve is an extremely skilled sailor, but really was easy going and endlessly patient with us beginners. The boats were in great shape and they have multiple staff who were there just working on keeping the boats in good shape. We got to practice many different skills every day of class, and everybody had plenty of time to rotate behind the helm. Finally the administrative staff such as Rebecca were always kind, hard working and well informed. I have already signed up for my next class and am planning on joining the club! Thank you very much! Scott C. read more

I'm a huge fan of Modern Sailing -- it came highly recommended from a friend who took sailing lessons there ~4 years ago, so I bypassed a few other schools here in the Bay (most of which were larger) to give Modern a try. Suffice to say that I was really impressed by their operation. PROs: -- small, personal (lots of personal attention if you take classes from them; ratio is 4:1 students:instructor) -- lots of boats, good availability to rent them on your own -- lessons are only taught on boats that are 30 feet or longer -- location (Sausalito is beautiful and it's a fantastic place to sail out of; hard to beat) -- the instructors (I had 3 instructors across two classes: ASA 101 and ASA 103); they were all fantastic CONs: -- class availability: word is out that these classes are really good, so be sure to book lessons in advance! read more

I took the 100 ton Masters course with Modern sailing and I was not impressed with their preparation of the class or the fact that they wanted to charge us more for the sailing , towing and radio endorsements that should have been included in the class. I was very disappointed that we were not able to get our Sailing, Towing or Radio endorsements from this course. I have taken this course previously through the Maritime Institute and they were able to offer these endorsements within the frame work of this class. The majority of the students in the class are sailors and plan to use this ticket on sailing vessels. Obviously this leaves us with a deficit. The over arching comment I would make is that I think the course could benefit from putting together a well laid out course workbook with well explained key concepts (and diagrams) i.e: Set and Drift, "60 D Street", Day shapes, Weather symbols, etc. And, the instructor did this in his own way, but I think I would have benefited from specific home work problems that we go over the next class period. I also left this critique with Modern Sailing and have not hard back from them. read more

Fantastic instructors and a really great Fleet. Highly recommend coming to look at the boats, especially if you are trying to choose between here and OCSC. Although OCSC has a larger pavilion and Marina presence, the boats at Modern Sailing are much superior, especially in their silver fleet which is the starter fleet. For example, be OCSC boats all have tillers but the Modern Sailing boats all have steering wheels. Another nice benefit to being a member of this sailing club in Sausalito is that it's easy to get on the Bay without having to fight the wind coming through the "Slot" (Golden Gate) like you do when you're coming out from Berkeley. Makes for a much more pleasurable beginning to your sailing day! read more

I was looking around the Bay area for an opportunity to get a couple of hours sailing in. I'm a relative beginner with a couple of certificates and about 10 days sailing experience, so I really wanted to sail with other experienced people in the bay and get to meet a few new people. The Wednesday evening 'club sail' seemed to fit the bill, and for $45 I really couldn't go wrong. We took out the catamaran, and Jim the Aussie skipper was friendly and helpful. There were quite a lot of people on-board with varying skill levels and interest in the actual sailing. In the end I was more of a passenger than I'd have liked, but given the circumstances that was to be expected. If I return to this area, or move here, this would be a club I'd check out. read more

Best sailing school in Sausolito. Its unique in that it gives you an American Sailing Association certification (ASA), which is one of the more acclaimed certificates that will allow you to sail pretty much anywhere in the world. The instructors are phenomenal (heavily recommend Jeff, take 101 and 103 from him). read more

Just finished my Basic Keelboat (BKB) from Modern Sailing. I've always wanted to learn to sail especially living in the Bay Area, where, on a gorgeous day, you see the bay dotted with sailboats. It made me want to go out there and take advantage of our surroundings! I was trying to decide between Modern Sailing and OCSC in Berkeley. Both were reputable. It so happened that I chanced upon a discount for sailing classes at Modern Sailing. That was the kick I needed to finally learn to sail! After having finished BKB, I now want to learn more! We had a great instructor for this course - Ed G. Plenty of experience, personable, and with a class of 3, definitely lots of hands-on time and personal instruction to learn the basics of sailing. He walked us through the key sailing concepts, drilled us to ensure it sinks in, while still making it a fun learning experience. The Club itself also was very welcoming. They have a nice selection of boats to choose from, with an awesome location in Sausalito, where sailing out of Richardson Bay opens up to a nice view of the city and the Golden Gate Bridge. I haven't decided yet whether to join the Club (would be good to get the practical experience), but don't see how I could go wrong with Modern Sailing. read more

My husband and I took the one-week "Heavy Weather Off-Shore Cruising" class from MSA. Our instructor, JT, was fabulous and is a very competent sailor and instructor. We had two other students on-board, and spent the week motoring or sailing between Drakes Bay at Pt. Reyes and Monterey, then back to Sausalito. Lots of adventures, including heavy winds and some equipment problems. Overall, the class accomplished the goals we had: to give us the confidence to take our own boat out the Golden Gate. We did this a couple of weeks later and all went well. We know this is a direct result of the week we spent on the water with JT. We're not giving MSA a 5 because there were some logistics issues with the class and some of the problems we had with the boat could have been avoided, at least in our opinion. But if you have the opportunity to take a class with JT, you can't go wrong. read more

Great place to learn to sail. Great place to charter. Wide selections of boats including catamarans. Friendly and attentive staff. They are *super* on top of maintenance also. What else could you possibly ask for! Now get out there and go sailing :) read more

I joined Modern Sailing earlier this year and was able to receive my ASA 101, 103, and 104 certifications. I am moving out of the Bay Area soon and I was saddest to have to leave the club. It's been an amazing experience. The instructors have been fantastic- really listening to what my goals were and made action plans to help me achieve those. I highly recommend working with Stephen Spooja and Kira Maixner. Stephen taught 103 and the docking class and couldn't have been more detailed in his instruction and letting us process the different aspects of sailing. Kira really had us practice the skills that we would need for solo sailing. Lee and his crew truly made an amazing environment at the club. I've developed so many new friendships and I was pleasantly surprised at how so many members and instructors would go out of their way to invite you to sail with them. read more

Love, love, love. Been a member for a couple years now and have done BCC, and Bareboat classes. I charter a boat about once a month too. This club is phenomenal, people are awesome (thanks Dee and Mollie!), and boats are always in good shape and fun to sail. The rates are great and instructors are fun. If you've ever wanted to try sailing or join a club, you can't go wrong here. read more

I joined this club earlier in the year after moving to Sausalito. I gotta say it's a great club. I was able to do a quick check out here after getting certified at another club. Majority of the boats are really nice and in really good shape. The dues aren't bad and the charter rates are way better than the other club down the road. I've checked out both of their fleets as well and they're pretty comparable. Modern is definitely the better deal. I can't speak for the school as I haven't attended any classes but just taking a few charters out the past few months, I can say the boats are great, rates reasonable, and staff friendly. Definitely give this place a try! read more

JUST DO IT! Go sailing - and do it here! I have just had an amazing week of sailing, doing the ASA 101 & 103 in 5 days with Modern Sailing. The place is friendly, efficient and very knowledgable. Our instructor was FIRST CLASS and every lesson and bit of wisdom came with grace and kindness... and lots of FUN! After all, what is sailing if not total FUN!!! Love this place - I look forward to ASA 104 and 105 with them! Remember, don't hesitate, JUST DO IT! read more

Recently completed a semi-private, 2 students and captain, sailing certification course. We had two instructors over a split 2 week, six days on the water course. Richard instructed us in 101, and Blaine instructed us in 103. Both instructors were excellent at their craft, and they were also just good guys, people we'd like to hang out with anyway. The office staff was just as good. The entire experience was some of the best money I've ever spent, and getting certified on our bay, San Francisco Bay, was a fantastic treat. The first day on the bay was very eye opening on how much is going on and how difficult a body a water the bay is. By the last day both my friend and I were fully confident in our abilities to charter a boat on what is considered one of the world's most challenging places to sail. Our knowledge of sailing was increased exponentially. I am thrilled with the experience and the results. Thank you all. read more