Modern Sailing School & Club - San Francisco Bay Sailing Lessons, Charters and Rentals, Adventure Sailing
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Sausalito and Berkeley Locations

Sleek sportboats, comfortable cruising boats, and luxury catamarans - our two locations have something for every kind of sailor!

Participate in the Racing Program!

Learn to race and become competitive with our Racing Clinics.
Practice skills in Spring, Summer and Mid-Winter Racing.

Join the Club!

Be part of a supportive, fun and friendly club.
Meet others and stay active on the water!

Courses for every level!

See our schedule of courses. Our courses and clinics offer
everything from the basics to advanced sailing skills.

Join the Club and charter sailboats on San Francisco Bay!
Sail with us on SF Bay!

Book your next Team Building Event and sail with us in one of the
world's top sailing destinations -- San Francisco Bay!

Looking to learn? Try our Introductory Sail!  Learn more!

What inspires you - day sailing, racing, vacation chartering, or extended voyaging? Whether your dream is to sail around San Francisco Bay or sail around the world, our Berkeley and Sausalito ASA certification courses and advanced clinics will help you prepare to get underway.

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Members enjoy privileges at our Sausalito and Berkeley locations: a variety of social events aboard and ashore, discounts on courses and clinics, and access to charter a diverse and professionally maintained fleet of sportboats, cruising boats, and cataramans. Join the club and sail!

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Relax, explore, and have fun. Modern Sailing curates and hosts unique sailing vacations to exotic and interesting destinations: internationally and along the California Coast.

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Nike spends the day sailing with Modern Sailing School And Club on San Francisco Bay participating in a Corporate Team Building Event and Race

Spend the day sailing on the beautiful San Francisco Bay. Hire our experienced skippers to give you a tour. Or, let us help you plan the ultimate team building activity - a Corporate Challenge Regatta!

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Welcome

The Best Choice for Sailing on San Francisco Bay


Modern Sailing is an award-winning school with locations in Sausalito and Berkeley.

Since 1983, Modern Sailing has been introducing people to sailing from our headquarters in Sausalito, California. We now also have a second location in Berkeley! Even if you have never set foot on a boat, we can teach you everything you need to know. We ensure our students build a strong foundation in this rewarding and lifelong sport. Modern is dedicated to making your learning experience as safe and enjoyable as possible.

Our experienced and friendly instructors hold US Coast Guard Licenses and represent decades of sailing experience. They are award-winning instructors, world cruisers, and Coast Guard commanders and are American Sailing Association certified instructors. Modern's high standards have earned us accolades in the sailing community, including the American Sailing Association's School of the Year Award.

Unlike other sailing schools, we offer you the option to learn aboard our tiller-steered J/24 sportboats in Berkeley or on 30' to 32' cruising boats with wheel steering in either Berkeley or Sausalito.

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More News & Events

Julie Kim, Modern Sailing Member and Racer
Sailor Spotlight: Julie Kim's Path to Competitive Bay Racing

Julie Kim's journey into the world of sailing began, unexpectedly, with a Mother's Day champagne sail in Santa Cruz in 2019. "I'd never been on a sailboat before,"... Read more

 
Capt. Kira Maixner_Offshore and Bay Area Racer, Sailing Instructor
Capt. Kira Maixner Coaches the Next Wave of Women's J/105 Race Teams

Captain Kira Maixner brings a wealth of experience to Modern's Wind & Women program, from spearheading its revival at Modern Sailing to navigating thousands of nautical miles across the... Read more

 
Team Chao Pesco - Winter 2024-2025 Level 2 Development Race Team
Chao Pescao's Chili Midwinter Adventure: From Mid-Fleet to Podium Finish!

With a total of five races from November to March, the 2024-2025 SYC Chili Midwinter Series have just concluded, leaving behind a trail of thrilling races and some... Read more

 
J/105 Chinook on the San Francisco Bay
Experience the Thrill with Modern Sailing's J/105 Fleet

The J/105 has established itself as a cornerstone of one-design racing, and Modern Sailing is proud to offer this exceptional vessel to our Gold Fleet rated members. This isn't just a boat; it's... Read more

 
Opening Day on the Bay 2025: Guide to the Launch of Sailing Season

Celebrate the launch of sailing season with early planning for the San Francisco Bay's Opening Day on the Bay: April 17, 2025. Learn about the 108-year-old tradition, vibrant boat parade details,... Read more

 

Wind and Tide Forecasts

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  • John Clark

    Every aspect of Modern Sailing - training, syllabus, course materials, quality of the boats, quality of the instructors, and the very friendly and helpful staff - exceeded my expectations. Modern Sailing has a first class sailing program in an environment with challenging winds and currents. I look forward to coming back to charter a boat and certainly plan to continue my sailing training.

  • 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.

  • John Boynton

    The class was terrific. I know you must get many compliments about your sailing instructors...But I must tell you that Robert is outstanding. Having taught SCUBA, I really appreciate the way he is so sensitive to all on board, dealing with each so well, knowing quickly their strengths and weaknesses making each feel special and cared for.

  • Jessica Zittere, Member

    The Full Moon Sail with Skipper Bob Gutsgell was Ah-Mayzing!! The group dynamic was lovely and the views spectacular. I can't say enough good things about the experience. Thanks so much for the wonderful Club Sails, they are really great.

  • Emma & George Stubbs, Sausalito

    We just took our ASA 106 at a school in Rhode Island as we prepare for 6 months of cruising in the Caribbean. The class was great, but more than anything it made us really appreciate the quality of teaching and rigor at Modern Sailing. Even though we were the newest to sailing, the group seemed to think that we had the best fundamentals. We felt very well prepared and we see why Modern Sailing has the reputation it does.

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Modern Sailing School & Club

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

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

Map / Directions