Stan Lander | Modern Sailing

Stan Lander

Head Instructor / ASA Senior Master Instructor

Stan started sailing at age 15 on Clearlake (Lake County, California) in Flying Juniors. During high school and college, he sailed and raced on trailerable catamarans (mostly Hobie 16s). After graduating from San Jose State University, Stan entered the United States Coast Guard and earned a reserve officer's commission in Yorktown, Virginia.

During his 20-year career, he served aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Morganthau as a Deck Watch Officer and the Coast Guard Cutter Northland as the Operations Officer. With over 10 years of sea service about Coast Guard ships, he is a veteran of three drug war campaigns.

During his off duty time, Stan owned and operated several different sloop-rigged keelboats and cruised extensively with his family. Noteworthy during these years, he and his crew Gordon Thomas captured the Overall SE Multihull Region Championship in 1981 on a Hobie 18 sailing out of the Fairhope Yacht Club, Alabama.

After retiring from the Coast Guard, Stan and his family settled in the San Francisco Bay Area where he still resides with his wife Sher. After obtaining his 200 Ton Master License in 1998, Stan quickly took to the SF Bay waterfront as a Charter Boat Captain and Sailing Instructor. He earned his ASA Sailing Instructor Certificates in the summer of 2000, and later earned his Instructor Evaluator Certificate in 2006.

Currently as Head Instructor, Stan teaches up to ASA 107, USCG Captains License courses, and Modern Sailing's Instructor Qualification Clinics. Based on student reviews, he has been awarded a Certificate of Achievement as an ASA Outstanding Instructor on multiple occasions. He is also one of only 34 ASA Senior Master Instructor Evaluators worldwide.

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  • Steve Hood, Basic Coastal Cruising

    I would definitely recommend Modern Sailing to anyone who is interested in learning to sail the right way.

  • Alisa Driscoll, Dual Site Member

    Here are some snaps of Our Saturday, August 20, 2022 Modern Sailing Expedition with Captain Robert Bivin, who was outstanding. Please convey photos and thanks to him. He is an outstanding individual, leader and sailing instructor. His knowledge and experience made us all feel safe and our Farallones Day Trip educational and just amazing. 

  • Esther C

    I took ASA 101 with them recently. They have the best customer service I've ever seen! I mistyped my address when I signed up online so didn't receive the textbook. I called and the lady immediately sent me another copy! Everyone at the club is super friendly.

  • John Boynton

    The class was terrific. I know you must get many compliments about your sailing instructors...But I must tell you that Robert is outstanding. Having taught SCUBA, I really appreciate the way he is so sensitive to all on board, dealing with each so well, knowing quickly their strengths and weaknesses making each feel special and cared for.

  • 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!

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Modern Sailing School & Club

Sausalito Location
2310 Marinship Way, Sausalito
(415) 331-8250
(800) 995-1668

Berkeley Location
1 Spinnaker Way, Berkeley
(415) 331-8250
(800) 995-1668

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