Take your sailing skills to the next level and learn to race sailboats! 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.
Modern Sailing's Racing Program is for intermediate to advanced sailors who wish to focus on building their navigation and sail trim skills in a casual racing environment.
Join our Racing Program and you will join an inclusive community of sailors while adding depth and dimension to your sailing knowledge.
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 and Asymmetrical Spinnaker Clinics 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 held on a Catalina 320 (Sausalito) or a J/105 (Berkeley) 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 light wind sail. You will spend two days getting familiar with all the crew positions to hoist, trim, jibe, and douse an asymmetrical spinnaker.
| RACING CLINIC | ASYMMETRICAL SPINNAKER CLINIC | |
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When paired with the Asymmetrical Spinnaker Clinic, the Racing Clinic meets the prerequisite to enroll in the Berkeley BYC Midwinters and Friday Night Races and the SYC, CYC, and GGYC races out of Sausalito. Price: Members $495 / Non-members $595 |
When paired with the Racing Clinic, the Asymmetrical Spinnaker Clinic meets the prerequisite to enroll in the Berkeley BYC Midwinters and Friday Night Races and the SYC, CYC, and GGYC races out of Sausalito. Price: Members $495 / Non-members $595 |
Enroll now and be ready to join the races for the upcoming season!
View the Schedule of Clinics and Enroll Online
Sailboat Races and Regattas in the SF Bay Area
Once you've completed the Racing Clinic and Asymmetrical Spinnaker 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.
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Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC)
Corinthian Yacht Club (CYC)
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View the Race Schedule and Enroll Online
Race Pricing
- Race Pack 5 (a discounted bundle of 5 races): Members $625; Non-members $725
- Single Race*: Members $150; Non-members $175
*After purchasing your first Race Pack 5, you have the option to purchase single races separately.
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Berkeley
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Sausalito
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Race Cancellation Policy
- If you cancel your reservation in a Race with notice more than 72 hours (24 hours in winter) prior to the Race, you will receive a full refund.
- If you cancel less than 72 hours (24 hours in winter), there is no refund.
NOTE: Some races are a part of a multi-day series and require you to participate in all race days in the series. These races have a modified cancellation policy. Please refer to your confirmation email or call the office for details.
