Join San Francisco Bay's Friendliest Sailing Club!
- Our Locations
- Our Charter Fleet
- Learn to Sail, Racing Program, and Destination Sailing Vacations
- Join a Supportive Sailing Community
- 10 Benefits of Membership
- Membership Costs
- Gaining Access to Bareboat Charter
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Skip straight to this page to gain instant access to the many benefits of membership:
Sausalito and Berkeley Sailing Locations
Modern Sailing has locations in Sausalito and Berkeley to offer Bay Area sailors with expanded and diverse opportunities for learning, fun, and friendship on both sides of the Bay. In addition to cruising boat options similar to what's available in Sausalito, Berkeley's fleet of J/Boats provide the means for a robust sportboat, performance, and racing program in the East Bay.
Get inspired! Sailing a wider variety of boats among different scenery, wind and tidal patterns will invigorate your sailing and keep it fresh.
See our addresses and locations on a map.
Charter a Sailboat on San Francisco Bay
Our fleet in Sausalito consists of more than 20 monohulls including Beneteau, Jeanneau, Catalina, J/105, and 2 multihulls, a, Seawind 1160 and Fountaine Pajot Lavezzi 40. Cruising yachts range from 30 to 44 feet in length and can accommodate from 5 to 12 people. Our fleet in Berkeley consists of sporty J/Boat models (J/24, J/80, J/88, J/99, J/105), five cruising monohulls ranging in size from 30' to 42,' and a Lagoon 40 catamaran.
Modern Sailing members gain access to bareboat charter by establishing a Fleet Rating. Newcomers to sailing can begin chartering by completing ASA 103 or above at Modern Sailing. Experienced sailors are not required to possess certifications, but must successfully complete a Fleet Rating Checkout with one of our instructors. Learn More
Never sailed before, but would love to give it a try? Join an Introductory Sail to experience what San Francisco Bay sailing is all about. You can also book a Skippered Sail for a private lesson or to simply enjoy sailing San Francisco Bay with a USCG Captain as your guide.
Learn to Sail, Racing Program, and Destination Sailing Vacations
How far do you want to sail? Whether you want to sail around San Francisco Bay, along the California Coast, or across oceans, we will help you take the helm to reach your goals. Explore our suite of sailing lessons that can take you from beginner to competent open ocean sailor: ASA Courses and Sailing Clinics. Elevate your sailing to exciting new heights when you join our 3-Tiered Racing Program and participate in a variety of casual or elite regattas on San Francisco Bay. Got wanderlust? Take your sailing skills beyond the Golden Gate Bridge and overseas when you join us for a Pacific Coast Expedition or a Global Destinations Sailing Vacation.
We offer more than just a place to charter a sailboat. We’re dedicated to helping you reach your sailing goals and grow your sailing community.
Join a Supportive Sailing Community
When you join Modern, you become a part of our thriving sailing community. All members are invited to attend Club Sails with other members on the weekends and for special events like the Sausalito Lighted Boat Parade, Fourth of July Fireworks, Giants Games, Full Moon Sails, Opening Day on the Bay, and Fleet Week. We help you meet other sailors working towards the same cruising goals via our members-only community resources: an email distribution list, Facebook Crew List group, and Slack channels. During the summer, members and their guests are invited to our Après Sails for cold beverages and snacks, Saturdays and Sundays 3:30 to 5:00pm.
There are three ways to sign up for a membership:
- Call our office at (415) 331-8250.
- Send us an email.
- Buy online here!
10 Reasons To Become a Modern Sailing Member
Two Locations - Your Modern Sailing club membership gives you membership priviledges at both of our Bay Area locations!
- In beautiful Sausalito at the Marina Plaza Harbor
- In a park-like setting at the Berkeley Marina, at the end of "The Slot"
- No matter which our of locations you choose to sail from, once you leave harbor, you are moments away from some of the best sailing in the world! You will also have access to some of the best anchorages and harbors: Clipper Cove at Treasure Island, South Beach Harbor in San Francisco, Ayala Cove at Angel Island, China Camp in San Pablo Bay, and more.
Charter Privileges - Modern Sailing has a diverse fleet of sportboats, cruising boats, and catamarans ranging in size from 24 to 44 feet. Each boat is professionally maintained and offers unique characteristics to provide you a wide range of charter options. View the Fleet. Our Berkeley location offers an exciting sportboat fleet consisting of a range of J/Boat models.
Discounts for Members - Save 10% to 25% on ASA Courses, Sailing Clinics, Expeditions, and other specialty programs.
Online Booking - Using our online booking system, you can quickly view boat availability and secure your charter, course, and clinics online: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Parties and Events - Modern Sailing is not only a sailing club, but also a social club - and there is always something happening! Whether it's a BBQ or Après Sail, member party, wine pourings or speaker series, our members enjoy a wide range of social activities.
Member Club Sails - Weekly group sails are fun, informal and skippered by members of the club who are both friendly and supportive. Practice your skills as the skipper or as crew. You can extend your member benefits for these sails to two adult guests per sail. Learn more about Club Sails.
Join a Modern Sailing Club Race Team - To fit your goals and racing style, our Racing Program has 3 tiers for beginning to advanced racers. Membership gives you access to join our Tier 2 Club Race Teams or a Tier 3 Performance Race Team.
Crew List - Modern Sailing provides resources to members to help connect to the sailing community and find crew to sail with.
Reciprocal Privileges - As a member of Modern Sailing, you receive reciprocal privileges with many other West Coast sailing clubs, meaning your membership expands your sailing opportunities beyond San Francisco Bay. View Reciprocal Clubs
Yacht Club Partnerships - Grow your sailing community even bigger! Members can qualify for discounted initiation and access to the Berkeley Yacht Club and Sausalito Yacht Club.
Membership Costs
Monthly Dues
For all memberships initiated or re-initiated after March 1, 2023, monthly dues are:
- Individual Membership: $65 per month
- Partners Membership: $80 per month
Membership Initiation Fee
- New Members: $500
- Former Members Rejoining: $250
Package Specials
If you're planning on taking two or more ASA courses, save up to 20% on your membership initiation and courses by purchasing a bundled Package Special.
Other Club Membership Details
- There are no contracts to sign and memberships are on a month-to-month basis.
- Monthly dues are charged your credit card on file on the 1st of every month.
- Need to put your membership on hold? We offer a complimentary one-time, 3-month hold on membership monthly fees - without terminating your membership.
- Refer a friend to Modern Sailing, and if they sign up, you'll receive a $100 referral credit, and they receive a $50 credit!
There are three ways to sign up for a membership:
- Call our office at (415) 331-8250.
- Send us an email.
- Buy Online Here!
Gaining Access to Bareboat Charter
The table below depicts the boat sizes and types you can gain access to charter when you a complete an ASA Course or a Fleet Rating Checkout with Modern Sailing.
| ASA COURSE | CHECKOUT BOAT SIZE* |
BOAT TYPE | FLEET RATING | BOATS YOU CAN CHARTER |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASA 103, Basic Coastal Cruising on a Sportboat | 24' – 26' | tiller-steered sportboat | Sportboat Fleet Rating** | Sportboats |
| 27' – 33' | tiller-steered sportboat | Premium Sportboat Fleet Rating** | Sportboats and Premium Sportboats | |
| ASA 103, Basic Coastal Cruising on a Cruising Boat | 30' – 32' | monohull cruising boat | Silver Fleet Rating | Silver Fleet Boats |
| ASA 104, Bareboat Cruising | 33' – 36' | monohull cruising boat | Gold Fleet Rating | Silver and Gold Fleet Boats |
| 37' – 40' | monohull cruising boat | Platinum Fleet Rating | Silver, Gold, and Platinum Fleet Boats | |
| ASA 114, Cruising Catamaran | 38' – 40' | catamaran (multihull) | Catamaran Fleet Rating** | Catamarans |
* If you are an experienced sailor, your Fleet Rating Checkout will be performed on the boat size you are most familiar with, according to your sailing resume.
** A rating for a cruising boat fleet does not grant access to the Sportboat/Premium Sportboat Fleet. A Catamaran Fleet Rating grants access to multihulls only, but not to monohulls.
