Robert Bivin | Modern Sailing

Robert Bivin

ASA Master Instructor

Robert Bivin has been an integral part of the Modern Sailing community since 2016. As an American Sailing Association (ASA) Master Instructor, Robert has guided students of all ages and abilities, from beginners to advanced sailors, where he specializes in ASA 108 Offshore Passagemaking and Heavy Weather Sailing. He is one of the few ASA Master Instructor Evaluators in the country, able to conduct ASA Instructor Qualification Clinics and teach courses to sailors pursuing a USCG Merchant Mariner Credential, such as the OUPV (six-pack) Captain License.

His adventurous spirit and love for being out on the water drew him to become a Sailing Instructor in 2018. Robert brings his wealth of experience and expertise to his sailing career, including being a certified scuba diver and a licensed private pilot. In his professional life, Robert brings his leadership skills to the tech sector as a Leader of Product Managers. His background also includes a distinguished military career as a Retired Army Reserves Field Grade Officer in the Military Intelligence Corps, where he is a decorated Combat Veteran and holder of the Combat Action, Pathfinder, and Airborne badges.

Robert is deeply committed to fostering the growth of the sailing community. He derives great joy from providing personalized sailing instruction, tailored to meet students at their current skill levels and help them achieve their sailing aspirations. His love for sailing extends beyond instruction, as he enjoys international travel and destination sailing adventures. Robert has led Modern Sailing Club flotillas in French Polynesia and the West Indies and served as a Charter Captain in the British Virgin Islands, Croatia, and the Sea of Cortez.

Credentials:

  • USCG Merchant Mariner Credential – Master 50 Ton License with Sailing and Towing endorsements.
  • ASA Instructor Certified:
    • (211) Instructor Evaluator
    • (201) Keelboat Sailing 1
    • (202) Keelboat Sailing 2
    • (203) Coastal Cruising
    • (204) Bareboat Cruising
    • (205) Coastal Navigation
    • (206) Advanced Coastal Cruising
    • (207) Celestial Navigation
    • (208) Offshore Passagemaking
    • (214) Cruising Catamaran
    • (216) Dinghy and Outboard Endorsement
    • (217) Basic Celestial Endorsement
    • (218) Docking Endorsement
    • (119) Marine Weather Endorsement
    • (120) Radar Endorsement
Trip Roles: 
Global Trip Leader

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  • 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. 

  • John Kipping

    The meeting room was quite adequate and the location most convenient, but the course outline and instruction were outstanding. Modern Sailing is fortunate to have such a well organized instructor in Mr. Stan Lander who teaches very well from a rich professional background. Mr. Lander was generous with his time and patiently in helping students who needed more attention or time in understanding various aspects of the curriculum.

  • Lisa Butzer Wilde

    Thumbs up to (Club Skipper) Geoff (Love) and his wife Laura. I went on my first Club Sail on Sunday, January 18, 2026. They were terrific!

  • 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.

  • Trudy Flores

    Captain Jeff Cathers is really cool. I had such a great time on the Farallones Day Trip. It was actually my very best day of 2020. Thank you so much for coordinating the trip.

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Modern Sailing School & Club

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

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

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