Modern Sailing has proudly graduated four more Club Skippers from our September Club Skipper Clinic! Club Skippers are experienced sailors and club members who give to the Modern Sailing community by taking the lead on our Club Sails. Formally trained at their own expense by an instructor in the Club Skipper Clinic, the compensation that our volunteer Club Skippers receive is to bring a complimentary guest along of their choosing on any Club Sails they may skipper, as well as handful of other perks that help grow their experience and support their continual development as sailors and leaders among our community.
In this article, you'll get introduced to our newest Club Skippers and learn a bit about their history as sailors with Modern Sailing and abroad, in their own words.
Please join us in giving Christopher Dang, Regina Riordan, Reuben Dobbs, and Richard Pon a warm welcome to our volunteer team of Club Skippers!
Christopher Dang
"I joined Modern Sailing last spring and have taken up to ASA 106, ASA 114, and most of the clinics offered here. Most of my sailing experience has been in the Bay Area, English Channel, and soon the Southern Ocean next month. l love being on the water and look forward to meeting other sailors as a Club Skipper!"
Regina Riordan
"The allure of sailing had been calling me for a long time, but the realities of engine exhaust and ocean sway had me convinced that my sensitive stomach would never allow me to become a competent sailor. An exhilarating afternoon on a catamaran convinced me that I had to at least try, so I signed up for ASA 101 at Modern Sailing. Immediately after completing the course, I became a member, and gradually, I found my sea legs.
"I have since earned ASA 103, 104, 105, 106, and 114 certifications and skippered my first week-long sail among Canada’s Gulf Islands in 2022. Before I had the confidence to charter independently, I completed a variety of Modern’s clinics and joined numerous Club Sails.
"Club Sails are a great opportunity to build skills and community as well as try out different boats. On board, we swap stories of past sailing adventures and future aspirations as we adapt to the various conditions that make San Francisco Bay such an awesome place to sail. It’s a fun, safe, and supportive experience that I hope to share with you soon
"You might also see me out sailing with the Blue Water Foundation or guiding sea kayaking trips with Environmental Traveling Companions, so keep your eyes out and wave me down!"
Reuben Dobbs
"It was the 2020 Summer of COVID and I was spending another day in my backyard 'sheltering in place' and getting very restless. At one point, I ended up binge watching this science fiction show and it featured a scene where the captain of his spaceship shuts off his ship’s engine and uses gravity to gracefully drift around the big, blue, beautiful planet of Neptune in silence. There was something about it that made me think, 'Man I wish could do that.' Well, three years later, and largely thanks to the great resources and instructors at Modern Sailing, I can sort of do something like that now.
"It's not exactly sling-shotting around Neptune in a space yacht, but taking the helm of a gorgeous 40-foot vessel, raising the sails, and using just the wind and current to go on an adventure around the beautiful San Francisco Bay is something that puts a smile on my face every time.
"Thank you to everyone at Modern Sailing who have helped my sailing dreams come true. I’m excited to now be a Club Skipper and encourage those of you reading this to come join me on a Club Sail sometime for a great day on the San Francisco Bay."
Richard Pon
"I learned to sail on Lake Merced (San Francisco) through San Francisco State University in 1977 and the American Red Cross sailing program in 1980. I spent time sailing Flying Juniors and O'Days and also did some windsurfing. In 1989, I bought my first boat, a Hobie 16, and enjoyed small boat sailing until I joined OCSC in 2015. I also became US Sailing certified for Bareboat, Coastal Navigation and Catamaran. I've been sailing globally on monohulls and catamarans ever since.
"I became a Modern Sailing member in 2021 and have earned ASA 104,105, 106, 114, 117, and 118 certifications. I am also a volunteer with Blue Water Foundation. My wife Lucy and I are also avid hikers and have hiked Patagonia (Chile), the Dolomites (Italy), the Coast to Coast and Cotswold Way (England), the Three Capes (Tasmania), the Tahoe Rim Trail, John Muir Trail, and more. I am a lifelong learner, always seeking out new adventures.
"As a Club Skipper, I hope to meet others who have similar interests and look forward to sharing experiences."
