Jörg Chabowski | Modern Sailing

Jörg Chabowski

Instructor

Although I reside in the SF Bay Area, I was born and raised in Germany.  I got my first taste of sailing in 2002 with a crew on a multi-day cruise in Greece. I was instantly hooked, and never looked back.

Over the last 20-plus years, I have sailed as crew and as captain with friends and family in Europe, the Caribbean, the San Juan Islands, and British Columbia. My most exciting sailing adventure was in the winter of 2024 aboard a 180 ft. tall ship.  We sailed from Argentina to Antarctica and back, a 21-day voyage. We had a proper crossing of the infamous Drake Passage with winds of 60 knots.

 In addition to sailing, teaching is another one of my other passions, although I have worn many hats. I initially trained in Europe as a nurse, and then moved to the USA as a professional dancer.  After moving to the SF Bay Area in the early 90’s, I transitioned from dancer to teacher after training in Pilates, Gyrotonic, strength and conditioning, and many other wellness modalities.

 In general, I feel most at home on the water, and am fortunate enough to live aboard my Ocean Alexander 48 docked in Sausalito with a gorgeous view of the SF bay from my aft deck.  

 At present, I am honored to be on the Modern Sailing teaching staff.

Sailing certifications:
ASA 101, 103, 104, 105, 106, 118 

Teacher qualification: (IQC)

  • USCG Captain OUVP
  • ASA IQC 201
  • ASA IQC 203
  • ASA IQC 204
  • ASA IQC 218

Hidden Talents:
My German sense of humor, and I love to bake.

“Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it”  - Johan Wolfgang von Goethe

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  • Danny Collins

    The office staff was very accommodating in meeting my availability.

  • Lisa Butzer Wilde

    Thumbs up to (Club Skipper) Geoff (Love) and his wife Laura. I went on my first Club Sail on Sunday, January 18, 2026. They were terrific!

  • Warren Leiden, Member

    I try to get out on the water every week: out the Gate, around Angel, up Raccoon - I love it all. After 18 years as a member of OCSC in Berkeley, I learned to sail the bigger boats at Modern by taking ASA 103 and 104. My ASA 104 instructor Dave Russell was terrific. Also, Captain Bill Moreland has been very generous in giving informal advice whenever I’ve asked him. Thanks to Bill, I no longer have any anxiety about docking!

  • Mike, Santa Rosa, California

    All of the courses and my instructors (JT and Stan) were extremely professional and full of knowledge and experience. I found I was able to learn from their experiences beyond the scope of the courses, and look forward to future opportunities to do so. I would highly recommend Modern Sailing to anyone.

  • Sara Jane G.

    I've taken two classes at MSS&C and was very happy with the program. This is also a great club with lots of opportunities for camaraderie and practice on the water. The boats in the fleet are fantastic and kept in tip-top shape. I highly recommend for all sailors and would-be sailors!

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