Take your sailing skills to the next level and learn to sailboat racing! The San Franciso Bay is known as a sailing mecca and racers from around the globe come to test their skills under the Golden Gate Bridge. The Bay's famous winds and significant currents test every team’s expertise, strategy, and mettle year-round.
Join our Racing Program and you will join an inclusive community of sailors while adding depth and dimension to your sailing knowledge.
Explore the topics below to discover the wide range of opportunities that Modern Sailing has for you to learn, practice, and compete.
Table of Contents
The Path to Racing
- • Step 1: Intro to Spinnaker Racing Clinics (formerly separate two-day Racing Clinics & Asymmetrical Spinnaker Clinics)
- • Step 2: Join a Race Team (SF Bay Regattas)
- • Modern Sailing's Racing Program: 3 Levels of Progression
Current Race Team Schedules
Program Info
Wondering if racing is for you? Check out our Member Resources article Five Reasons to Race with Modern Sailing.
San Francisco Bay Area Sailboat Racing Clinics
Prior racing experience is required to join our teams in the local yacht club races. However, if you're new to racing, our Racing Clinic will fulfill this requirement and prepare you to be a solid crew member on any Modern race boat.
With locations in Berkeley and Sausalito, Modern Sailing is able to offer the widest range of opportunities to learn and experience the excitement of yacht club racing on San Francisco Bay.
The Racing Clinic is a 2-day clinic that will teach you performance sail trim, efficient maneuvers, and the basics of the race course. After spending a portion of the clinic honing these skills, you will enjoy hands-on experience racing against another Modern boat!
The Asymmetrical Spinnaker Clinic will teach you all the ins and outs of flying this beautiful downwind sail. You will spend two days getting familiar with all the crew positions to hoist, trim, jibe, and douse an asymmetrical spinnaker.
| NEW: INTRODUCTION TO SPINNAKER RACING CLINIC | PREVIOUS 2-DAY RACING CLINIC and 2-DAY ASYMMETRICAL SPINNAKER CLINIC | |
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4-Day Intro to Spinnaker Racing Clinic: Prerequisite for: Level 1 Racing Series (SYC/BYC Midwinters, Chowder, and Beercan series). Requirements: Sportboat/Silver Rated (Crew) or Gold Rated (Helm). Schedule: 4 Days (2 days spinnaker focus, 2 days racing fundamentals). Price: Members $1095 / Non-members $1295. Non members please submit your sailing resume. |
2-Day Racing Clinic: Prerequisite for: Level 1 Introduction Race Teams through the Spring Series 2026. Starting Summer Series 2026 the 2-Day Asymmetrical Spinnaker Clinic is required to join Level 1 Race Teams. Requirements: Silver or Sportboat Rating (Non-members submit resume). Schedule: 2 Days, 9:00am – 4:00pm. Price: Members $535 / Non-members $645. 2-Day Asymmetrical Spinnaker Clinic Prerequisite for: Level 1 Introduction Race Teams starting with Summer Series 2026 and Spinnaker Charters. Requirements: Silver or Sportboat Rating. Schedule: 2 Days, 9:00am – 4:00pm. Price: Members $535 / Non-members $645. Non members please submit your sailing resume. |
View the Schedule of Racing Clinics and Enroll Online and be ready to join the races for the upcoming season!
Sailboat Races and Regattas in the SF Bay Area
Once you've completed the Racing Clinic, you are eligible to join the races!
The Bay’s many yacht clubs take turns hosting regattas year-round, giving sailors ample opportunity to partake in thrilling races all over the Bay Area. During races, our participants rotate through different roles (skipper, helm/driver, spinnaker trimmer, jib trimmer, foredeck crew, midship/mastman, tactician) in order to gain skills and confidence in each role. Each team will have one of our USCG Captains on board to give expert advice and coach racers across the finish line.
Below are some of the Bay Area yacht club races that we typically enter our teams in.
| BERKELEY RACES | SAUSALITO RACES | |
|---|---|---|
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Berkeley Yacht Club (BYC) |
Sausalito Yacht Club (SYC)
Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC)
Corinthian Yacht Club (CYC)
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View the Race Schedule and Enroll Online
A Three-Tier Yacht Racing Program for Beginning to Advanced Racers
When signing up for races online, you will encounter some different types of races. Here's how to distinguish between them and know which you are eligible for.
| LEVEL 1: INTRODUCTION RACE TEAMS | LEVEL 2: DEVELOPMENT RACE TEAMS | LEVEL 3: PERFORMANCE RACE TEAMS | ||
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Introduction Race Teams are perfect for those who are just getting started with racing, or those who want to experience every position on a raceboat and can commit to regular attendance in a full series. Members and non-members are invited to sign up. Introduction Race Teams are also skippered by a Modern Sailing instructor who serves as a race coach. Introduction Race Teams are typically racing J/105s in Sausalito SYC/CYC races and Berkeley BYC races. The prerequisite for joining the 2026 Spring Series Introduction Race Teams is completion of the Racing Clinic. Starting with the 2026 Summer Series, The Spinnaker Clinic is required. Learn about our new 4-day Intro to Spinnaker Racing Clinic that replaced our previous 2-day clinics and see the FAQ section on how to transition to the new format. Learn more about our current Introduction Race Teams schedule and enrollment. |
Development Race Teams (formerly referred to as "Club Race Teams") give racers the opportunity to develop skills both individually and together to become a cohesive and competitive team. Racers are required to sign up for all races in a local yacht club series. Development Race Teams are usually skippered by a Development Race Skipper who is an experienced racer. Teams sail a J/99 or J/105. After completing the Intro to Spinnaker and Racing Clinic, (or the previous Racing Clinic and Asymmetrical Spinnaker Clinic), and a Level 1 race series, Modern Sailing members are eligible to join a Development Race Team. Stay tuned to our weekly email - we'll announce when we are building new teams before the start of a series. Learn about club membership. Development Race Teams also serve as training grounds and feeder for our Level 3 Performance Race Teams. |
Level 3 Performance Teams have the opportunity to participate in international regattas and elite racing events on San Francisco Bay such as the Rolex Big Boat Series. Racers will train together on multiple occasions in advance of the event to get well-prepared to put in their best possible performance for the event. For the class-level spring and summer series, the prerequisites for crew are a minimum of 12 days of racing experience, preferably in the Modern Sailing Racing Program. Participation in the Rolex Big Boat Series is by Modern Sailing invitation only. Preference is given to members who have participated in the Spring and Summer Series J/88 Performance Program, or who have had frequent participation in past races with Modern Sailing. |
Race Pricing
Level 1 - Introduction Race Teams
- Visit our Introduction Race Teams page for current pricing information.
Level 2 - Development Race Teams
- Visit our Development Race Teams page for current pricing information.
Level 1 Introduction Race Team and Level 2 Development Race Team prices are subject to change by season or series.
Questions?
We're happy to help! Please feel free to reach out to our friendly customer support team. Representatives at either location can answer questions for both locations.
Berkeley and Sausalito Contact Information
- (415) 331-8250
- office@modernsailing.com
Race Team Cancellation Policy
- If you cancel with greater than 30 days notice from the first day of the series, you will get a full refund.
- If you cancel 29 - 15 days prior to the first day of the series, you will get a 50% refund.
- If you cancel 1 - 14 prior to the first day of the series, you are not eligible for a refund.
Note:
- No refunds will be issued for cancellations during the series. Attendance at all sessions is expected.
- If you miss more than one race in the series, your position will be permanently reassigned
Race Team Rescheduling Policy
- If you need to reschedule the series before the series has begun, you can do so at no additional charge if you provide 30 days notice or greater.
- If you need to reschedule within 29 - 15 days of the first day of the series, you must pay a $295 rescheduling fee.
- If you need to reschedule within 1 - 14 days of the first day of the series, you must pay a $425 rescheduling fee.
