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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  • Jessica Zittere, Member

    The Full Moon Sail with Skipper Bob Gutsgell was Ah-Mayzing!! The group dynamic was lovely and the views spectacular. I can't say enough good things about the experience. Thanks so much for the wonderful Club Sails, they are really great.

  • Danny Collins

    The office staff was very accommodating in meeting my availability.

  • 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!

  • Mike, Santa Rosa, California

    All of the courses and my instructors (JT and Stan) were extremely professional and full of knowledge and experience. I found I was able to learn from their experiences beyond the scope of the courses, and look forward to future opportunities to do so. I would highly recommend Modern Sailing to anyone.

  • 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.

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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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