Last updated January 19, 2022
At Modern Sailing School & Club, we are adapting to a new reality, and it shows in the changes to the way our community interacts and the way we do business. To responsibly share the healthy benefits of sailing with our members and students, we've innovated modifications to our programs and operations. These modifications are informed by CDC recommendations and current Health Orders in Effect for Marin County in respect to social distancing, vaccination, and mask requirements.
We are currently operating on our regular business hours of 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, 7 days per week.
Mask Policy Overview
- Recent CDC guidance regarding wearing masks states that vaccinated persons are no longer required to wear masks in most outdoor situations. Unvaccinated sailors are recommended to wear masks, even outdoors. Masks are required in all indoor situations, regardless of vaccination status.
- Modern Sailing maintains a supply of masks onsite to provide to staff and/or clients should they forget to bring their mask.
- We encourage all sailors to follow the California Department of Public Health mask guidelines applicable to their vaccine status.
Testing Policy Overview
- Modern Sailing maintains a supply of over-the-counter (OTC) "at-home" COVID-19 test kits onsite.
- If a staff member develops symptoms at work or has difficulty attaining a test, an OTC test will be provided to the staff member at no cost.
- If a staff member becomes ill (any cause), a negative COVID-19 test result must be provided by the staff member before being permitted to return to work.
- Overnight courses during which students and instructor will sleep aboard in the boat cabins: All students and instructors will be tested onsite the first morning of the course using an OTC COVID-19 test kit. Students have the option of performing an OTC test at home on the first day of class before arriving. Modern Sailing will accept students' home OTC test results in lieu of testing onsite.
- If a client wishes to "challenge" a positive result arising from an onsite test, the client can bring two additional OTC test kits of their own. Two consecutive negative tests will override the previous positive result.
- If a client must cancel a reservation due to a positive COVID-19 test result, all late cancellation fees will be waived when the client provides documentation of the test result to Modern Sailing.
Vaccine Policy Overview
- Clients participating in overnight courses (ASA 104, ASA 105/106 Combo, or ASA 106) are required to provide proof of vaccination.
- Employees and sailing instructors are required to be fully vaccinated and show proof of vaccination to a manager. A copy of the vaccine card will be kept on file.
- At this time, full vaccination is defined as two shots of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or one shot of the Johnson & Johnson.
Scenarios where masks, vaccinations, and/or tests are required:
1. Indoors
- Masks are required in all indoor classes and in the Modern Sailing office, regardless of vaccination status. If you forget to bring your mask, please contact our office and we will supply you with one.
2. Overnight Classes
- Students are required to show proof of vaccination to participate in an overnight course.
- All students and instructors will be tested onsite the first morning of a multi-day/overnight course using an over the counter "at-home" COVID-19 test. Students have the option of performing a COVID-19 test at home. Modern Sailing will accept students' OTC test results in lieu of testing onsite.
2. Daytime Outdoor Classes
- Students who test positive or experience COVID-like symptoms should stay home. The rescheduling fee will be waived if the student presents a positive COVID test result to Modern Sailing.
3. MSC Personnel Working Onsite
- Employees can be tested onsite in any of these scenarios:
- Employees who are not vaccinated have 3 weeks from their first notification of the policy to obtain their first vaccination, and must provide weekly negative COVID-19 test results until 2 weeks past their full vaccination.
- if symptoms of illness arise before or during the employee's working hours
- if they need a test but have difficulty acquiring a test offsite.
- If a staff member becomes ill (any cause), a negative COVID-19 test result must be provided by the staff member before being permitted to return to work.
Program Modification Details
Below, you'll see specifically how each of our programs have been modified for COVID-19 safety.
Please note that the status of the programs listed below are subject to change at any time in keeping with evolving public health guidance issued by the state and county.
- Sailing Education Programs
- Bareboat Chartering
- Skippered Charters
- Member Events & Club Sails
- Recreational Race Program
- Local and Global Destinations
- Sanitation & Safety
- Doing Your Part
- Bareboat Chartering? Know What To Expect
Sailing Education Programs
ASA Courses & Sailing Clinics
- Introductory Sailing Lessons are operating at full capacity.
- ASA 101, Basic Keelboat Sailing, ASA 103, Basic Coastal Cruising, and ASA 101/103 Combination Course
- These courses will run at full capacity (4 students, 1 instructor).
- ASA 101 and 103 courses will be shortened by 1 day if there are only 2 students in the class.
- ASA 101/103 courses will run at full duration (5 days) with three or 4 students and will be cancelled if there are only 2 students enrolled.
- Masks are required for non-vaccinated sailors.
- ASA 104, Bareboat Cruising is an overnight course.
- In order to participate, students are required to provide proof that they are fully vaccinated.
- OTC COVID-19 tests will be administered for students and instructors the first morning of the course.
- ASA 105, Coastal Navigation and ASA 107, Celestial Navigation will be held in a very large, well-ventilated classroom. Maximum capacity is 12. Masks are required for all students.
- ASA 105/106 Combo and ASA 106, Advanced Coastal Cruising are overnight courses.
- In order to participate, students are required to provide proof that they are fully vaccinated.
- Students and instructors will be tested onsite the first morning of the course using over-the-counter COVID-19 test kits.
- Maximum class capacity is 4 students and 1 instructor.
- No less than 30 days in advance of the course date, we will assess current public health guidelines and make decisions for any necessary cancellations or additional modifications.
Private Lessons and Custom ASA Courses
- Custom ASA Courses are very popular and available for booking upon request.
- Private Lessons capacity depends on the size of the boat:
- aboard Silver Fleet vessel: 4 and instructor
- aboard Gold / Platinum vessel: 6 and instructor
- Fleet Certification Skills Check-Outs (for new member fleet certification and membership upgrades) are being scheduled on a case-by-case basis.
Courses for Sailing Professionals
ASA Instructor Qualification Clinics and USCG Captains License Courses are scheduled for February through March 2022 with a class capacity of 12. Certain sessions are held on the water and others will be held indoors in a large classroom. Masks are required indoors at all times.
Bareboat Chartering
- Full Day (9am - 8am next day) nreservations are available 7 days per week.
- Midweek Sunset (4 - 8pm) reservations are available Monday through Friday.
- Midweek and Weekend Prime Time (9am – 3:30pm) and Weekend Sunset (4 – 8pm) reservation types are currently unavailable.
- Charter forms are now all electronic. (Charterers will need to bring a mobile device with access to their email and an Internet connection.)
- Online booking is available. Learn How To Book a Boat Online
- Bareboat chartering? Know what to expect.
Skippered Charters
Maximum capacities are restricted as follows:
- Silver Fleet (30'- 32') vessels: 4 passengers and 1 captain per boat.
- Gold (33' - 37') and Platinum (38' - 44') Fleet vessels and Catamarans: 6 passengers and 1 captain per boat.
- Complimentary Thank You Sails for COVID-19 essential personnel: 5-6 passengers and 1 captain per boat.
Member Events
Club Sails
Maximum capacities are as follows (to include skipper and guest of skipper):
- Gold Fleet (33' - 37') vessels: 6-7 passengers.
- Platinum Fleet (38' - 44') vessels: 8-10 passengers.
- Catamarans: 10-12 passengers.
Après Sail Socials
- Après Sails are held in our outdoor lounge on Saturdays and Sundays every weekend, from 3:30 to 5:00 PM.
Race Program
Recreational Race Clinic
- Maximum capacity is 5 race students per boat.
Races
- Standard crew capacity is 5 racers and 1 coach. Maximum capacity is 6 racers and 1 coach.
- Learn More about the Recreational Race Program.
Destinations Cruises & Flotillas
Local Destinations (Coastal Expeditions)
- Farallones Day Trips capacity is 6 plus captain, whether aboard our bluewater cruiser Coho II or our bluewater catamaran Kanaloa.
- The policy for Drakes Bay and Halfmoon Bay Trips is the same as for overnight courses: students are required to provide proof of that they are fully vaccinated to participate.
Global Destinations
- Global Destinations flotillas are not being coordinated at this time. Please check back for updates.
Sanitation and Safety
- Our COVID-19 Office Safety Protocol promotes physical distancing, hygiene, and sanitization within the office and lounge area. This document also describes our safety procedures when interacting with charterers and guests.
- After use, boats are thoroughly cleaned and sanitized according to our Fleet Sanitation Protocol.
- Multi-day sailing courses will be held aboard a single boat for the duration of the course, unless a mechanical issue necessitates a boat switch.
- Disinfectant cleaning products are available for use aboard.
Bareboat Chartering - Reservations, Check-in, and Electronic Charter Forms
All reservations and charter paperwork will be accomplished electronically via Internet, telephone, email, Google Forms, and VHF radio. (You do not need a Gmail account to complete our Google Forms.)
- The day of your charter, be sure to bring your mobile phone or other mobile device with access to your email and the Internet.
- We recommend “leashing” your mobile device in a waterproof pouch with a lanyard or other device that can keep your phone tethered to you while you use it.
- Your electronic charter paperwork will be emailed to you the morning of your charter, providing links to each form. Your boat’s slip number and lock combination are located at the top of the Boat Check-Out Form.
- Payment for your charter will be processed with your credit card on file, unless you request another form of payment in advance.
- Upon boarding the boat, turn on the VHF radio to channel 68.
- Complete and submit the electronic Boat Check-Out Form on your mobile device.
- When you are ready to leave the dock, hail the Modern Sailing office on VHF channel 68 and inform the team member that your check-out form is submitted. When the team member acknowledges, you are free to cast off and enjoy your sail.
- After returning to dock and before leaving the boat, complete and submit the electronic Boat Check-In Form.
Doing Your Part
- If you experience symptoms of COVID-19 or receive a positive test result, please stay home. We will waive rescheduling fees if you provide a COVID-19 test result, regardless of the results.
- All individuals and charter crews are encouraged to maintain a minimum 6-foot distance between themselves and others (those not sharing a residence). When encountering others on the docks, please step onto a finger pier to allow them to pass.
- If staying aboard overnight, as always, bring your own bedding, towels, and toiletry.
- We recommend that you bring your own galleyware (dishes, silverware, cookware). If you do use any of the boat’s galleyware, please thoroughly wash all items with soap and water and leave them in the sink or on the galley counter. A fleet technician will sanitize them before the next charter.
- Multi-day charterers are responsible for their refueling and holding tank pump-outs, if needed, during the duration of the charter. Learn More about where and how to fuel up and pump out on SF Bay.
Ready to set sail? To make a reservation, please call our friendly office at (415) 331-8250 or send us an email.
Thank you to everyone who is doing their part to help limit the spread of COVID-19 and to serve our community. We also encourage everyone to continue practicing physical distancing and careful hygiene, and to stay safe by staying informed. Learn more about how to stay safe at coronavirus.gov.
