Jeff Cathers | Modern Sailing

Jeff Cathers

ASA Master Instructor, Head Instructor

When Jeff Cathers was 17 years old, a classmate told him that he and his father were going to sail to Hawaii for his summer vacation. Jeff was awestruck at the notion and couldn’t imagine how it was possible to cross a giant ocean in a small sailboat. Captivated by the idea, Jeff asked his classmate a million questions and soon knew that he wanted to learn everything about sailing, the sea, the explorers and their ships.

Since then, Jeff learned to sail and went on to skipper several bareboat charters in British Virgin Islands, La Paz, Key West, Tahiti, and on the California coast, including two "Baja Ha-Ha" cruiser rallies. Still fascinated with sailing and lifelong learning of the sport, Jeff now loves to share his passion for sailing with others by teaching the skills, lessons, and destinations that he has personally experienced. He has taught sailing lessons in Santa Cruz, Monterey Bay, the British Virgin Islands, and now here in the Bay Area with Modern Sailing as an ASA Master Instructor Evaluator leading other sailors to become instructors themselves.

As an explorer and tour guide at heart, Jeff enjoys demonstrating the best approaches to sailing the San Francisco Bay, cruising in exotic places, and adventuring with friends and family. He is always thirsty to discover what lies over the next horizon and to share what he finds with others.

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  • Danny Collins

    The office staff was very accommodating in meeting my availability.

  • 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.

  • Ray Arceneaux

    The vessel was clean and in fine condition - very nice boat for training, well-equipped.

  • Steve Hood, Basic Coastal Cruising

    I would definitely recommend Modern Sailing to anyone who is interested in learning to sail the right way.

  • Esther C

    I took ASA 101 with them recently. They have the best customer service I've ever seen! I mistyped my address when I signed up online so didn't receive the textbook. I called and the lady immediately sent me another copy! Everyone at the club is super friendly.

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