How to Experience the Farallones Islands: Wildlife, Sailing Adventures & the San Francisco Bay | Modern Sailing

How to Experience the Farallones Islands: Wildlife, Sailing Adventures & the San Francisco Bay

An Unforgettable Journey: The Last Farallones Expedition of 2025 Season with Andrea Geisinger

Capt. Andrea Geisinger's final expedition to the Farallones Islands was nothing short of spectacular, an experience "as good as they get." Setting sail from Sausalito aboard our bluewater Spencer 1330 cruiser Coho II, the crew was treated to a day of stunning natural beauty and thrilling wildlife encounters.

The morning began with an overcast sky, but the sun broke through just in time to reveal the majestic Farallones in all their glory. With excellent visibility, the islands were already in sight as they passed the San Francisco approach buoy. As Coho II drew near, Andrea made the strategic decision to furl in the jib and motor the final stretch to ensure they had ample time to explore the islands. "We were too close not to go for it," she said, and the decision proved to be "absolutely worth it."

The return trip was equally memorable. The crew spotted several humpback whales, with some breaching and others performing deep dives, showing off their massive flukes. A few of the whales even came within a few boat lengths of the Coho II, much to the delight of everyone on board.

Despite a choppy sea with 6-7 foot waves and winds in the mid-teens, the crew had a fabulous time. Coho II handled the conditions with its usual grace. As the sun began to set, they approached Point Bonita, a moment Andrea described as "absolutely stunning." Although she was focused on navigating the challenging waves and swells, she heard a chorus of "ohhs and ahhs" from the crew, captivated by the breathtaking sunset. The journey concluded with a serene nighttime approach to Richardson Bay and the Sausalito channel, a unique experience for the crew.


Experience It Yourself

While our 2025 Season for offshore trips to the Farallones has concluded, we encourage you to keep watching for our upcoming Spring Expeditions. These opportunities to create your own unforgettable memories of the sea are not to be missed. Join our weekly newsletter to receive announcements to know when we open up our enrollments.

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  • John Clark

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    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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    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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