Sitting in the cockpit of Coho II, Modern Sailing General Manager Dan Bailey looked back to where it all began three years ago in Captain Richard Jensen’s ASA 101-103 Basic Coastal Cruising Combination course. Now, Dan was embarking on Modern’s ASA 106 Advanced Coastal Cruising course, his most ambitious offshore expedition to date.
"The weather conditions were absolutely perfect," Dan says with a smile, his hindsight conveniently skipping over the 25-knot gusts that consistently tested the crew. Admitting the coastal journey wasn't without its challenges, he quickly recalls the exhilarating sail down to Half Moon Bay. Dan highlights the strength of his crew as a major factor in shaping such fond memories of the voyage down the coast. "It's amazing that a crew who were practically strangers could sync up so well."
Day one kicked off with safety checks, boat prep, and route planning. Under Capt. Jensen’s guidance, the crew plotted courses that left room for tactical pivots. Departing San Francisco Bay immediately presented a high-stakes navigation test, requiring sharp vigilance as the crew found themselves playing a game of "frogger" with three massive outbound oil tankers all sharing the channel at the same time. Captain Jensen and the crew carefully calculated vectors and timed their maneuvers to weave cleanly through the commercial traffic and clear the Golden Gate.
Once out in open water, the robust 44' Spencer 1330 proved her bluewater mettle instantly. "We really put Coho II through her paces," Dan says. "Full sails up in 25 to 30 knots, and she handled extremely well with complete control." Clocking a blistering 11 knots, the cruiser hit speeds Capt. Jensen had never seen on the vessel before.
The only time they engaged the autohelm was while motoring nose-to-wind up to Drake's Bay. It took strategic maneuvers to anchor with the bow holding strong in 20 knots of wind, but the crew felt a immense sense of accomplishment once she was fully secure. The crew had the secluded anchorage to themselves. It set the stage for an unforgettable evening, topped off by a 20-minute display of humpbacks feeding right near the boat. "The birds were circling, the whales were performing acrobatics, and we just got to take it all in," recalls student Will Stallard, a UK-born sailor who returned to the sport on cruising boats after a long hiatus. "The unbroken view of the sunset from Drake's Bay, the heightened quench of a cold beer shared by crewmates, these are experiences that stick with you," Dan adds.
By Sunday, Coho II made her triumphant return to the Bay with Dan at the helm. "We were surfing the waves, weaving in and out as we sailed back under the Golden Gate to keep her speed consistent."
For Will, returning to local waters highlighted how much their confidence had grown. "The Bay felt so tame after!" he marveled. Unsure if Capt. Richard tells all his students they were the best crew, the team celebrated Dan and Will's big boat experience blended with Ken Martin and Scott Walbrun's racing backgrounds. They brought sharp trim focus, lightning-fast response times, and high-level boat awareness to the rotation.
The offshore voyage served as a powerful validation for the entire crew, proving that consistent helm time on big boats is the key to stepping up your seamanship. Looking ahead, Will has his sights set on ASA 108 and reciprocal charters in Catalina and the Channel Islands. Scott is already enrolled in September's ASA 108 Offshore Passagemaking course down to Marina del Rey. Ken is embarking on the ASA 108 prerequisite this month: ASA 117 Basic Celestial Endorsement. Dan brings that offshore inspiration back landside to support Modern Sailing's growing community across three locations.
Are for Ready for Your Coastal Adventure?
Our coastal sailing season ends October. We have upcoming ASA 105–106 California Coastal Combination courses on the schedule: View the dates and sign up here.
Our ASA 106 courses are currently full, but we are working to open more dates on the calendar soon!
If you are a current ASA 104 Bareboat Cruising student or graduate, the single best step you can take is to keep chartering regularly on the Bay to keep your skills sharp and build big-boat muscle memory.
To get on the interest list for upcoming ASA 105 or 106 openings, contact our office team today. In the meantime, explore your next steps with our article: Choose Your Adventure: ASA 105 and 106.
Thanks to Dan Bailey, Will Stallard, Scott Walbrun for sharing your photos and memories. If you have a recent sailing experience you'd like to share, send us an email!
