Skippered Charters - Pricing | Modern Sailing

Skippered Charters - Pricing

How much does a Skippered Sail or Private Lesson cost?

Skippered Sails and Private Lessons are a great way to sharpen your sailing skills or celebrate a special occasion with the guidance of an ASA Certified and USCG Licensed Captain. Depending on the goal for your time on the water, we will help you customize your skippered sail or private lesson to get the most out of your time on the water.

Skippered Sails are leisurely San Francisco Bay cruises highlighting iconic sights such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, and the San Francisco City Front. Skippered Sails have a guest capacity anywhere from two to six people and offer the opportunity for guests to participate as much or as little as possible.

Private Lessons are skills-focused instructional sessions for one to two people for a minimum of three hours. Private sailing lessons are a great way to brush up on essential sailing skills such as close-quarters maneuvering, docking, anchoring, crew overboard recovery drills, and general sailing maneuvers such as tacking and jibing. A Private Lesson is perfect for the rusty sailor who wants a refresh before a Bareboat Skills Checkout or a new sailor who wants to solidify their newly acquired knowledge.

Skippered Sails and Private Lessons are considered one-day events with a minimum of three hours and a maximum of 8 hours with your captain. If you want more time to learn sailing skills and earn ASA certifications such as ASA 101, ASA 103, ASA 104 etc, our Custom ASA Courses could be a great fit for you.

Below is a list of our Skippered Sailing and Private Lesson packages. All sails begin and end at our charter base in Sausalito. Remote pick up and drop off can be arranged at various locations around the San Francisco Bay Area. Skippered cruises and private sailing lessons have a three-hour minimum and can be customized to your needs. Learn more about our boats and fleet levels on Our Charter Fleet page.

Do you have questions? Email us at office@modernsailing.com or call our friendly office at (415) 331-8250.

Skippered Sails or Private Lesson Packages and Pricing (3 hours minimum)

FLEET MEMBER PRICE NON-MEMBER PRICE
Sportboat (24 - 26 ft) $455 $525
Premium Sportboat (27 - 29 ft) $605 $710
Silver (30 - 32 ft) $605 $710
Gold (33 - 37 ft) $730 $835
Platinum (38 - 44 ft) $760 $885
Catamaran $975 $1135
On Your Own Boat* $325 $395
Additional Hours $90 / hour $105 / hour


A gratuity of 10% of the total price is customary and appreciated by our captains. A $50 deposit is required prior to scheduling your captain.

SPORTBOAT FLEET

Our exciting fleet of J/24 and J/80 sportboats (24-26 feet) in Berkeley are a great choice for adventure-seekers and anyone interested in high-performance sailing experiences.

SILVER FLEET

Our value priced product offering. The Silver Fleet boats are 30-32 feet in length, light, fast and highly maneuverable. These boats are perfect for groups of 2-4 people.

GOLD FLEET

Our most popular product offering. The Gold Fleet Boats are 35-37 feet in length and accommodate a group of 4-6 people in comfort.

PLATINUM FLEET

Our most luxurious product. Treat your party to the utmost in comfort and convenience on our 38+ foot yachts.

CATAMARAN

Catamarans have unparalleled comfort and are known for spaciousness and stability. If you have never sailed in a luxury catamaran, Skippered Sails are the perfect time to do so.

ON YOUR OWN BOAT

We also offer lessons on privately-owned vessels. Simply add Modern Sailing as additionally insured on your marine insurance policy. *If your boat is located more 30 minutes of drive time beyond your captain's base in Sausalito or Berkeley, travel time will be added to the price of your lesson. Your instructor will inspect your vessel prior to departure and may postpone the lesson if the vessel is found to be in an unsafe condition. 

Ready to book a Skippered Sail or Private Lesson?

Do you have questions about Skippered Sails, Private Lessons, or our online request forms? Call our friendly office at (415) 331-8250 or send us an email. We're happy to help!


CANCELLATION POLICY FOR SKIPPERED SAILS AND PRIVATE LESSONS

  • If our scheduler is unable to accommodate your request, your deposit will be refunded to you. Upon confirmation of your booking, your deposit is applied to the total payment. 
  • 100% refund [less the $50 deposit] when notice of cancellation is given more than 72 hours from the start of the event.
  • 50% refund [less the $50 deposit] when notice of cancellation is given 72 hours or less from the start of the event.

For groups of more than six people, contact us or check out the Corporate Regatta Challenge option.

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Testimonials

  • Mike, Santa Rosa, California

    All of the courses and my instructors (JT and Stan) were extremely professional and full of knowledge and experience. I found I was able to learn from their experiences beyond the scope of the courses, and look forward to future opportunities to do so. I would highly recommend Modern Sailing to anyone.

  • Rolf Zingg

    Since many, many years, I had the dream to sail underneath the Golden Gate bridge. On October 14th last year, my dream became true. Thanks to our dear friend Aaron Fritz who made it possible and organized this cruise for us. With this adventure I was able to achieve one more milestone on my sailing career.

    Finally on the water, it was great! Full moon made the flows even stronger and it was like sailing in a washing machine.

    I did my sailing education in the English Channel, where the situation with the wind and flows is comparable to the San Francisco Bay. So I felt pretty much "at home" being on the helm in the Bay.

    I hope our skipper Stan Lander enjoyed this day cruise too. We, definitely did! It was an unforgettable experience for all of us.

    A very big thank you to all of you who made it possible, that my dream became reality! Also thank you for the MSC flag I got at the end of the day. It found it's place in my study, where I can see it daily.

    Rolf Zingg
  • Alisa Driscoll, Dual Site Member

    Here are some snaps of Our Saturday, August 20, 2022 Modern Sailing Expedition with Captain Robert Bivin, who was outstanding. Please convey photos and thanks to him. He is an outstanding individual, leader and sailing instructor. His knowledge and experience made us all feel safe and our Farallones Day Trip educational and just amazing. 

    Alisa Driscoll

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Modern Sailing School & Club

Contact Us

Modern Sailing School & Club

Sausalito Location
2310 Marinship Way, Sausalito, CA 94965
(415) 331-8250
(800) 995-1668

Berkeley Location
1 Spinnaker Way, Berkeley, CA 94710
(415) 331-8250
(800) 995-1668

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