San Francisco Sailing Club Membership | Modern Sailing

Bay Area Sailing Club Membership

 

Join a Sailing Club on San Francisco Bay

Our sailing club offers the perks of boat ownership without the maintenance, slip fees, or even the pump-out! Our fleet in Sausalito consists of 23 monohulls including Beneteau, Jeanneau, and Catalina, and 2 multi-hulls, a, Seawind and Fountaine Pajot Lavezzi. Yachts range from 30 to 44 feet in length and accommodate anywhere from 5 to 12 people. Our yachts are well-maintained by our skilled fleet staff and ready for charter on San Francisco Bay. Our fleet in Berkeley consists of sporty J/24s, J/80s, J/105s, and four cruising monohulls ranging in size from 30' to 37'.

Our bareboat charter fleet is available to Modern Sailing members who have completed ASA 103 and above or who have successfully passed a Fleet Rating Check-out with one of our experienced captains. Inexperienced sailors are invited to join an Introductory Sail to experience what San Francisco Bay sailing is all about.

Sausalito and Berkeley Sailing Locations 

Modern Sailing has locations in Sausalito and Berkeley to offer Bay Area sailors with expanded and diverse opportunities for learning, fun, and friendship on both sides of the Bay. In addition to cruising boat options similar to what's available in Sausalito, Berkeley's fleet of J/Boats provide the means for a robust sportboat, performance, and racing program in the East Bay.

Get inspired! Sailing a wider variety of boats among different scenery, wind and tidal patterns will invigorate your sailing and keep it fresh. 

Meet Bay Area Sailors

When you join Modern, you become a part of our thriving sailing community. All members are invited to attend Club Sails with other members on the weekends and for special events like the Sausalito Lighted Boat Parade, Fourth of July Fireworks, Giants Games, Full Moon Sails, Opening Day on the Bay, and Fleet Week. We help you meet other sailors working towards the same cruising goals via our members-only email distribution list, Facebook Crew List group, and Slack channel. During the summer, members and their guests are invited to our Après Sails for cold beverages and snacks, Saturdays and Sundays 3:30 to 5:00pm.

Learn to Sail, Destination Sailing Vacations, and Skippered Charters

No matter what your sailing goals are, we will help you take the helm to reach them. If you are new to sailing, explore our ASA Courses and speciality Sailing Clinics. Take your sailing skills beyond the Golden Gate Bridge and overseas when you join us for a Pacific Coast Expedition or a Global Destinations Sailing Vacation. Book a Skippered Sail for a private lesson or to simply enjoy sailing San Francisco Bay with a USCG Captain on hand.

We offer more than just a place to charter a sailboat. We’re dedicated to helping you reach your sailing goals and grow your sailing community. 

There are three ways to sign up for a membership:

  • Call our Sausalito office at (415) 331-8250 or our Berkeley office at (510) 831-1800.
  • Send us an email.
  • Link to sign up online coming soon!

12 reasons to become a Modern Sailing Member

Two Locations - Your Modern Sailing club membership gives you membership priviledges at both of our Bay Area locations!

  • In beautiful Sausalito at the Marina Plaza Harbor
  • In a park-like setting at the Berkeley Marina
  • No matter which our of locations you choose to sail from, once you leave harbor, you are moments away from some of the best sailing in the world! You will also have access to some of the best anchorages and harbors: Clipper Cove at Treasure Island, South Beach Harbor in San Francisco, Ayala Cove at Angel Island, China Camp in San Pablo Bay, and more.

Charter Privileges - Modern Sailing has a diverse fleet of boats ranging from 30 to 44 feet. Each boat is professionally maintained and offers unique characteristics, to provide you a wide range of charter options at a discounted rate. View the Fleet. Our Berkeley location also offers an exciting sportboat fleet consisting of J/24s, J/80s, J/88s, and J/105s.

Discounts on Courses - Save between 10 - 25% on ASA courses, clinics, and specialty programs.

Online Booking - Using our online booking system, you can quickly view boat availability and secure your charter, course, and clinics online: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Parties and Events - Modern Sailing is not only a sailing club, but also a social club - and there is always something happening! Whether it's a BBQ or Après Sail, member party, wine pourings or speaker series, our members enjoy a wide range of social activities.

Member Club Sails - Weekly group sails are fun, informal and skippered by members of the club who are both friendly and supportive. Practice your skills as the skipper or as crew. You can extend your member benefits for these sails to two adult guests per sail. Learn more about Club Sails.

Join a Modern Sailing Race Team - In addition to racing clinics, join a Member Race Team that fits your goals and racing style.

Online Crew List - Modern Sailing is now on Facebook. Members can join the Modern Sailing Crew List to get connected. This is a great place to post shared charter opportunities and offset your cost.

Discounts on International Charter Bookings - Receive a substantial discount when you book a vacation charter. Discounts vary depending on charter location, dates, and boat.

Reciprocal Privileges - As a member of the Modern Sailing Club, you receive reciprocal privileges with many other west coast sailing clubs, meaning your membership expands your sailing opportunities beyond San Francisco Bay.  View Reciprocal Clubs

Yacht Club Partnerships - Ask us about discounted initiation and access to local yacht clubs.

Better Than Boat Ownership - Modern Sailing offers our members access to sailing without the ongoing costs of ownership. Members receive discounted rates on bareboat charters and courses.

Membership Details

Monthly Dues: For all memberships initiated or re-initiated after March 1, 2023, monthly dues are $65/Individual, $80/Partners.

New Member One-Time Initiation Fee = $500

If you are learning to sail with Modern Sailing, your completed course verifies your sailing competency. If you have learned to sail outside of Modern Sailing, a Fleet Rating Checkout is required. See Fleet Rating Checkout pricing options below.

New Member One-Time Initiation Fee + Fleet Rating Checkout Clinic Bundle = $600

If you are an experienced sailor joining the club and would like to bareboat charter, you will be required to undergo a Fleet Rating Checkout to vet your skills. You may choose to join one of our prescheduled Fleet Rating Checkout Clinics, or you can opt for a Private Checkout and schedule your checkout to suit your schedule.

New Member One-Time Initiation Fee + Private Fleet Rating Checkout Bundle = $675

Non-Bundled Group Fleet Certification Checkout = $350 Private / $200 Clinic. Rates apply to Reciprocal and Corporate members.

Package Specials - If you're planning on taking two or more ASA courses, save up to 20% on your membership initiation and courses by purchasing a bundled Package Special.

Other Club Membership Details

  • There are no contracts to sign and memberships are on a month-to-month basis.
  • Monthly dues are charged your credit card on file on the 1st of every month.
  • Need to put your membership on hold? We offer a complimentary one-time, 3-month hold on membership monthly fees - without terminating your membership.
  • Refer a friend to Modern Sailing, and if they sign up, you'll receive a $100 referral credit, and they receive a $50 credit!

There are three ways to sign up for a membership:

Join a San Francisco Bay Sailing Club

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Testimonials

  • 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!

    David Dolenc
  • Rolf Zingg

    Since many, many years, I had the dream to sail underneath the Golden Gate bridge. On October 14th last year, my dream became true. Thanks to our dear friend Aaron Fritz who made it possible and organized this cruise for us. With this adventure I was able to achieve one more milestone on my sailing career.

    Finally on the water, it was great! Full moon made the flows even stronger and it was like sailing in a washing machine.

    I did my sailing education in the English Channel, where the situation with the wind and flows is comparable to the San Francisco Bay. So I felt pretty much "at home" being on the helm in the Bay.

    I hope our skipper Stan Lander enjoyed this day cruise too. We, definitely did! It was an unforgettable experience for all of us.

    A very big thank you to all of you who made it possible, that my dream became reality! Also thank you for the MSC flag I got at the end of the day. It found it's place in my study, where I can see it daily.

    Rolf Zingg
  • Steve Hood, Basic Coastal Cruising

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

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Modern Sailing School & Club

Contact Us

Modern Sailing School & Club

Sausalito Location
2310 Marinship Way, Sausalito, CA 94965
(415) 331-8250
(800) 995-1668

Berkeley Location
1 Spinnaker Way, Berkeley, CA 94710
(415) 331-8250
(800) 995-1668

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