Leigh Hunt | Modern Sailing

Leigh Hunt

President and CEO

An electrical engineer by education, Leigh was working in Product Management for Bay Area telecommunications companies before he decided to make sailing a profession and purchased Modern Sailing in July 2014.

Originally from Canada, Leigh began his sailing education at a Canadian Yachting Association (CYA) school in Ontario. After moving to California in 2004, he quickly found two ASA schools to help take his skills to the next level. He completed his ASA 106 at Modern Sailing by taking the 7 day Heavy Weather Offshore Course with John Connolly. Leigh has been chartering regularly with Modern Sailing since 2006, and has participated in many sailing events like our first Napa flotilla. He later joined John Connolly on an Offshore Passage Making Course in the South Pacific.

In addition to chartering locally on San Francisco Bay, sailing destinations have been a big part of Leigh's vacationing. Leigh has done destination charters in the Caribbean, deliveries in the Greek Med, and an ocean voyage from San Francisco to Maui, Hawaii. From 2009 to 2014, he volunteered for a San Francisco Bay non-profit, the Bluewater Foundation. The mission of this foundation is to help at-risk youth by providing them with enriching experiences sailing on SF Bay. In 2013, he began serving on the executive committee, and in 2014 he was named the President of the foundation.

Leigh is at heart an avid sailor. In addition to leading Modern Sailing and partner club Inspire Sailing in Berkeley, he is a licensed captain and certified ASA instructor. He always makes time in his busy schedule to get on the water (as often as possible!) to share his skills and passion for sailing with students and staff members.

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  • 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.

  • Warren Leiden, Member

    I try to get out on the water every week: out the Gate, around Angel, up Raccoon - I love it all. After 18 years as a member of OCSC in Berkeley, I learned to sail the bigger boats at Modern by taking ASA 103 and 104. My ASA 104 instructor Dave Russell was terrific. Also, Captain Bill Moreland has been very generous in giving informal advice whenever I’ve asked him. Thanks to Bill, I no longer have any anxiety about docking!

  • Danny Collins

    The office staff was very accommodating in meeting my availability.

  • John Kratochvil, Oregon

    I would like to compliment Stan Lander for his coaching, counseling and teaching Heavy Weather Offshore Sailing. Stan was very accommodating to all of the student's interests and shared his many years of insight on handling the boat in heavy seas. I would certainly recommend Stan and this course to sheltered waters sailors. My confidence in handling a boat of this size was certainly enhanced by the experience.

  • John Boynton

    The class was terrific. I know you must get many compliments about your sailing instructors...But I must tell you that Robert is outstanding. Having taught SCUBA, I really appreciate the way he is so sensitive to all on board, dealing with each so well, knowing quickly their strengths and weaknesses making each feel special and cared for.

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Modern Sailing School & Club

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

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

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