All new, returning, or current members who wish to charter Modern Sailing vessels or upgrade an existing Fleet Rating are required to successfully complete a skills checkout with a Modern Sailing instructor aboard one of our vessels. Prior to scheduling a checkout, an office team member will review your sailing resume to match you with the vessel size for your checkout that most closely resembles your recent experience. During a checkout, sailors will demonstrate their sailing capabilities, including foundational skills such as tacking and jibing, crew overboard recovery, safety precautions, and knowledge of local waters. The instructor observes, evaluates, and can participate as crew, but does not give instruction during a checkout.
A checkout is required when:
- An experienced sailor has joined the club and wants to gain access to bareboat chartering.
- A sailor has completed ASA 103, 104, or 114 at Modern Sailing more than a year from the membership initiation date.
- A former member is rejoining the club and has not chartered with Modern for two or more years.
Experienced sailors seeking a Fleet Rating (a requirement for bareboat chartering) have the option of doing a Checkout Clinic or Private Checkout. Checkout Clinics are placed on our schedule in advance and up to 4 pre-approved sailors can sign up. For Sportboat checkouts, the maximum is 3. With a Private Checkout, the sailor coordinates with our office team to schedule an ad hoc checkout with a boat and instructor.
Want to get as prepared as you can be before your checkout? Check out our Development Sails! You might also find our Member Resources library helpful.
Successful completion of a Fleet Rating Checkout authorizes sailors to charter monohull cruising boats in the same size range as the boat that the checkout was performed on, and smaller. The table below depicts the boat sizes and types you gain access to charter when you a complete a Fleet Rating Checkout.
| CHECKOUT BOAT SIZE |
BOAT TYPE | FLEET RATING | BOATS YOU CAN CHARTER |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24' – 26' | tiller-steered monohull sportboat | Sportboat Fleet Rating* | Sportboats |
| 27' – 33' | tiller-steered monohull sportboat | Premium Sportboat Fleet Rating* | Sportboats and Premium Sportboats |
| 30' – 32' | monohull cruising boat | Silver Fleet Rating | Silver Fleet Boats |
| 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 |
| 38' – 40' | catamaran (multihull) | Catamaran Fleet Rating* | Catamarans |
*Separate checkouts must be performed to gain access to our Sportboat/Premium Sportboat and Catamaran Fleets. In other words, a rating for any cruising boat fleet does not grant access to the Sportboat and/or Premium Sportboat Fleet. A Catamaran Fleet Rating grants access to multihulls only, but not to any monohulls. In short, to gain access to every size and type of vessel we offer, a sailor would need to achieve Premium Sportboat, Platinum, and Catamaran Fleet Ratings.
To sign up for a Fleet Rating Checkout Clinic, start by submitting your checkout request and sailing resume via this form: Request a Fleet Rating Checkout, ASA Course Challenge or Private Lesson.
Once your deposit is paid and your sailing resume is reviewed and approved, you will be permitted to enroll in the Checkout Clinic or our scheduler will contact you.
Sportboat Checkout Clinic Price: $165 per individual
Cruising Boat Checkout Clinic Price: $220 per individual
Checkout Clinic Duration: 4+ hours (dependent on number of enrolled clients)
Sportboat Private Checkout: $275
Cruising Boat Private Checkout: $385
Private Checkout Duration: 4 hours
Learn more about the many ways to achieve or upgrade a Fleet Rating for bareboat chartering.
