Laura Parent | Modern Sailing

Laura Parent

Instructor, Race Coach

Growing up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Laura was influenced at an early age by the ocean, boats and waterways of her hometown as well by as her father’s career as a Port Everglades Pilot.

After earning her degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Tulane University, Laura followed her dream and the call of the sea. Achieving her 100-ton USCG master's license at age 23, she logged 20,000 nautical miles over 9 years working as crew, watch officer, or captain on a variety of vessels: traditional sailing schooners, tourism boats, racing yachts, megayachts, and expedition ships. Laura has lived in Boston, MA and Newport, RI where she began racing on J24s, worked on 12-meter sloops, and spent a season racing throughout the Caribbean.

During the last three years of that time, Laura landed a position as Third Mate then became Second Mate for Lindblad Expeditions in Southeast Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, and Baja’s Sea of Cortez standing watch and driving zodiacs on National Geographic small-ship expeditions. Deciding to take a break from the merchant mariner’s life, she dropped anchor in the SF Bay Area to begin working in the travel industry in which she became an expert in Latin America adventure travel and Polar expeditions.

Laura has been teaching clients and friends about sailing for many years informally, but since the pandemic, she began her instructor certification process with the American Sailing Association. She loves teaching new sailors, especially women, and instilling in them the confidence to be the captain of their own ship!

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  • Danny Collins

    The office staff was very accommodating in meeting my availability.

  • 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.

  • 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!

  • 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.

  • 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!

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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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