Record Days on the Water and Exciting New Faces: The Big Takeaways From Modern Sailing's Instructor All-Hands
At Modern Sailing, our curriculum is only as strong as the leaders at the helm. Our roster is comprised of world-class, ASA-certified USCG Captains who act as the backbone of our school and club. From guiding a beginner through their very first Intro Sail to skippering advanced coastal passage-making and leading our signature Global Destinations flotillas, these professionals set the standard for instruction on the San Francisco Bay.
Every year, our team gathers to review the data from the previous season, welcome new talent, and align on our mission to provide the safest, most comprehensive sailing education available. Our recent All-Hands meeting at Skates on the Bay in Berkeley, set against a spectacular Bay sunset, offered a perfect window into the sheer volume of experience, dedication, and expertise our instructors bring to the water every single day.
Here is a look at the milestones shaping our fleet this year, the standard-setters we recognized from the 2025 season, and the elite talent joining our ranks.
Looking for our complete roster of instructors? You can view the list of our active captains, read their individual sailing backgrounds, and learn more about our leadership team on our About / Staff Page.
Welcoming Our Newest Instructors
Growth at Modern Sailing is always driven by quality. To ensure our students learn from the best minds in the industry, we continually seek out high-caliber talent to expand our roster. We are thrilled to introduce our newest instructors, who are already making an impact on the water for 2026:
- David Dolenc (Joined in 2025)
- Gordon Bitter (Joined in 2026, bringing extensive local knowledge from Club Nautique)
- Ken Passeri (Joined in 2026, also bringing a wealth of experience from Club Nautique)
- Uanoa Nelson (Joined in 2026, a familiar face stepping into this new role at MSC Berkeley)
Click on the names of the instructors to read their full professional bios.
The Benchmarks of Excellence: 2025 Instructor Recognitions
While every member of our team plays a vital role in keeping our fleet moving, our annual benchmarks highlight the immense dedication it takes to maintain an active, elite training program.
Most Active On-the-Water: The best way to maintain world-class instincts is constant time on the water. These three captains logged an incredible number of days guiding students through complex conditions last season:
- Eric Wittig (139 Days): Eric was a constant force on the Bay, teaching a massive range of ASA Cruising and Sportboat courses (including 101, 103, 104, and 114), leading specialized clinics, and coaching our racing teams.
- Andrea Geisinger (86 Days): Andrea covered a vast technical curriculum, teaching ASA 101, 103, 104, 114, and 106. She also served as First Mate on our offshore ASA 108 passage, led skill-building clinics, and skippered demanding coastal expeditions to the Farallon Islands and Half Moon Bay.
- Gene Filipi (70 Days): Having just joined us in 2025, Gene jumped into the rotation with incredible energy. He focused heavily on foundational confidence, teaching ASA 101, 103, 118 (Docking), Upgrade to Silver courses, member orientations, and development sails—and has recently expanded into teaching ASA 104.
Outstanding New Instructor: David Dolenc
David hit the ground running, building a rock-solid foundation teaching ASA 101 and 103, while expanding into Intro Sails, development clinics, skippered charters, and private lessons. David’s recognition is backed by flawless client feedback, earning perfect 4-out-of-4 scores across every single evaluation category—including instructor preparedness, professionalism, course coverage, and overall student experience.
Most Active Race Coach: Carmen Maio
Sailing isn't just about cruising; it's about precision. Carmen has been instrumental in transforming students into competitive racers, guiding them from the classroom to the racecourse. He coached the Berkeley Yacht Club (BYC) Friday Night Level 1 Intro and Level 2 Development Race Teams, as well as the Sausalito Yacht Club (SYC) Spring and Summer Sunset Level 2 Development Race Teams.
The Scheduler's Choice Award: Rolf Jaeger
Behind the scenes, keeping a multi-location fleet and a diverse roster moving smoothly requires immense cooperation. Our scheduling team presented this award to Rolf in deep appreciation for his flexibility, quick responsiveness, and unwavering positivity. Rolf lent his skills to nearly every facet of the club—teaching ASA 101, 103, and 104, coaching racing, leading Intro Sails, skippering charters, conducting fleet checkouts, and facilitating ASA course challenges.
Why the Standard Matters
Our instructors don't just teach the ASA curriculum; they build the lifelong confidence that allows our community to explore the world safely. Whether you are stepping onto a boat for the absolute first time or looking to challenge yourself with advanced ocean passage-making, you are learning from captains who live and breathe this sport.
Thank you to our entire instructor team for their dedication to setting the highest educational standard on the San Francisco Bay, season after season.
We’ll see you on the water!
