Meet Three of Our Newest Club Skippers! | Modern Sailing

Meet Three of Our Newest Club Skippers!

In November, Modern Sailing graduated a new batch of Club Skippers from our most recent Club Skipper Clinic. Meet three of our newest Club Skippers – Rik Williams, Christopher Dann, and Bill Lawler, who are now certified to skipper Club Sails

We thank Rik, Christopher, and Bill - and all our Club Skippers - for stepping up into a leadership role that serves the members of club. 

Rik Williams

"When I moved to San Francisco in late 2016, I'd sometimes look out at the boats on the Bay and wonder, 'how do you do that?!' After a year of watching, I signed up for ASA 101 at Modern Sailing, and the rest is history -- I've since been through most of Modern's ASA courses, skippered and crewed on numerous day and overnight charters, tried my hand at recreational races and Inspire's J/105 fleet, and am in the process of buying my own boat (a Westsail 28). Shoreside, I can usually be found exploring local trails and breweries with my partner, Brooke, and our Lab mix, Wilson.

"As a Club Skipper I'm excited about the opportunity to get out on the water more, learn from other club members, and help newer sailors gain experience and build confidence. I look forward to sailing with you soon!"


Christopher Dann

"I have enjoyed being on the water in the SF Bay since I was a teen. I formalized my sailing knowledge at first with the US Sailing curriculum at OCSC (now Inspire Sailing) and then with the ASA curriculum at Modern Sailing. I really enjoy chartering boats here and have also done some sailing in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. I am hoping to do some chartering in the South Pacific as soon as possible. I am very excited to be a Club Skipper and I look forward to sailing with other members of the club!"


Bill Lawler

I began sailing in 2018 when I moved to Marin County. I was looking for a hobby that was outdoors, physically active, social, and unique to the Bay Area. Sailing ticked all the boxes.

Since joining Modern Sailing, I’ve completed ASA 101 through 105, the Night Sailing Clinic, and Club Skipper Clinic, and the Gold Fleet Docking Clinic at Inspire Sailing. I’ll be going on my first charter in the US Virgin Islands in January 2023.

I wanted to become a Club Skipper to share my enthusiasm for sailing on the SF Bay, meet other club members, and gain more experience sailing the Gold and Platinum Fleet boats."

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  • 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!

  • David Dolenc, Member

    I love sailing in the San Francisco Bay and greatly appreciate everything that MSC has to offer, the classes, clinics, club sails, racing and charters. I enjoy our supportive sailing community and use every opportunity to spend time on the water. After obtaining the certifications from MSC I did my first charter in Croatia in 2022 with my family. It was amazing and we’re looking forward to returning soon!

  • Andrew Goble, San Francisco

    It has been wonderful sailing with MSC over the years. Please extend my thanks to the owners, management, and staff for unrequited professionalism and high standards in a charter fleet. I have sailed with several in my years and none nearly hold a candle to the quality of business and staff at Modern Sailing.

  • 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.

  • 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.

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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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