Sailing Clinics and Short Lessons

Treat your friends and family to a premier bay adventure with a sail to Angel Island and an overnight stay moored at Ayala Cove -- but first, prepare yourself for the fore and aft mooring, shallow waters, and tidal currents that can make mooring at Ayala Cove a unique challenge.

Our Angel Island Mooring Clinic prepares you to successfully conduct a bow-and-stern mooring as required by the California State Park Angel Island Harbor Master. Additionally, you will become proficient at utilizing one or two buoys for overnight mooring situations in many worldwide cruising locations.

Silver Fleet, Platinum Fleet and Catamaran Refreshers.

Dust off your topsiders and come join us for a one day tune-up to refresh all the essential skill sets that are easy to forget if you haven't been sailing on a regular basis.

There are three different Refresher Clinics to choose from, each designed to accomodate different skill levels and goals. Not sure where you fit in?  We would be happy to help you - email us or give us a call at (415) 331-8250.

Upgrade your Silver Fleet certification to charter bigger, luxurious boats! Our two-day Gold Fleet Upgrade Clinic will teach you the skills you’ll need to safely handle boats in the size range of 33 to 37 feet. To expand your experience, this clinic is taught on two different Gold Fleet boats. Topics covered include anchoring, mooring, docking, using a roller-furling mainsail, crew overboard maneuvering, and boat systems.

This clinic is for members only.

Sailing in light wind can be very pleasant and easy, but can also be a challenge if you lack the necessary skills. Gain the skills to be a confident light air sailor and continue sailing through those fair winter days when winds tend to be light. Topics covered include sail selection, control lines, halyard settings, and techniques for maximizing your boat's performance on all points of sail. This clinic will also include an introduction to sailing with an asymmetrical spinnaker.

Make the most of light winds on downwind points of sail by learning to fly the asymmetrical spinnaker! 

This clinic prepares the sailor to fly a Cruising Asymmetric Spinnaker (CAS) when passage-making with short-handed crew. Students will learn how to hoist, trim, and jibe this beautiful downwind auxiliary sail.  Special handling techniques and emergency procedures are also covered. 

Due to high winds on SF Bay in the summertime, this clinic is only available during winter and early spring.

Welcome our recent addition to the Modern Sailing fleet, a 2006 Fountaine Pajot Lavezzi 40 catamaran. Stable, fast, and fun to sail, Kanaloa is comfortable and luxurious for entertaining a group of up 12 friends or family. This clinic will familiarize you with Kanaloa’s configuration, systems, and handling under auxiliary power and sail. Prepare to charter her with confidence and provide your crew and guests with a phenomenal catamaran sailing experience!