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Spinnaker Sailing San Francisco
Categories: Active Life Boating Event Planning & Services Boat Charters Boating, Boat Charters [Edit]
Pier 40South Beach Harbor
San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 543-7333
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 9 am - 5 pm
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
12 reviews for Spinnaker Sailing San Francisco
12 reviews in English
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Review from mark b.
San Francisco, CA
5/20/2012
Both my wife and I completed the Basic Keelboat 1 through a Groupon and I can't rate the experience highly enough!
Spinnaker were excellent from preparation beforehand right through to the actual teacher and the condition of the boat.
I should give a special shout out to Mark the teacher who made the whole experience so enjoyable.
if I keep on sailing, then Spinnaker will be my first port of call! -
Review from Gregory P.
San Francisco, CA
4/8/2011
I did a Groupon 2day basic keelboat sailing class. It was great - fun, I learned a lot, and I feel like I could go sail with a friend tomorrow! I felt like it was a great value and would have been worth the full price.
Highlights:
- A really fun and super knowledgeable instructor (Stewart Hunter)
- About 20 minutes of important fundamentals in the classroom before we went outside and applied what we learned and just practiced and tested the same fundamental concepts over and over in different ways - a great way to learn the basics really well.
- We got a lot of time sailing on the water, which let us have some fun and make some mistakes and learn in a really practical way.
- I left feeling like I had a fun weekend, learned a lot, and could go sail with a friend tomorrow.
The only reason its a 4 not a 5 is that the boat was in kinda junky shape, missing a few pieces, loose equipment all over, an engine that didn't stay down in reverse (which makes reversing hard and potentially a little dangerous). -
Review from Joshua L.
Seattle, WA
3/24/2011
I also had the Groupon for the Basic Keelboat 1 class (2 days, basic instruction) and found my experience to be quite enjoyable! Learned a lot and plan to take the Basic Keelboat 2 course soon as I have a space in my schedule. Our class was fortunate to have Mark for our skipper (lead instructor, 40 years experience) and will be requesting him next time around. Great guy and good instructor -- recommend him.
Saw some negative comments below that all seemed to be around the 2005 timeframe, but I think things are different at Spinnaker now. I have a busy travel schedule and the admin staff was able to get me in on short notice - grateful for that! -
Review from David Z.
3/29/2010
I was on a boat! (Sadly, T-Pain was not there.)
The reason for being on a boat was to complete the Basic Keelboat 1 class this past weekend with Dan (thanks again, Groupon!).
I'd always looked out at the Bay on sunny Saturdays and dreamed of being on one of those boats. And when I finally was, it was everything I wanted it to be.
Dan taught us terms and knots, and then we learned how to set sail. The first day wasn't very windy, but on the second day we had great wind, and together we trimmed our sheets and hoisted our halyards to form one awesome sailing squad.
My only complaint was that we didn't get any sort of certificate, study guide, or souvenir after the class. It would have been nice to have something to remember it by...
If you go, bring a windproof, waterproof jacket, sunblock, and water! -
Review from Nina L.
12/23/2008 2 photos
I completed Basic Keelboat Sailing I and II and had a great time! Their staff is knowledgeable and friendly and I learned just what I needed to sail a little boat on my own. Our instructors were both very patient and skillful while trusting us enough to set-up the boat on our own by the second day. Both instructors had different styles of teaching but managed to prepare me for the written and practical tests for my first certification. Yippee!
I'm a girl who gets sick in calm Monterey Bay in a kayak and I can proudly say that I survived both weekends and loved sailing in the SF Bay! I got to do some solo sailing, can tell you where the jib, winch, shrouds, and gooseneck are on the boat, and passed the Man Overboard maneuver. If you've ever wanted to learn how to sail, this is your place for a no-nonsense lesson and certification program that follows the ASA standards. -
Review from abdullah s.
Seattle, WA
8/10/2005
This place USED to be great, 5 stars as noted in my original review below.... however, due to recent developments with management (or shall I say mismanagement), I'm lowering my rating to 1 star (and that's only because that's the lowest I can go).
Badly maintained boats, extremely unprofessional management (the owner is going through a divorce and his lack of attention to his business really shows), unknowledgeable staff (the good ones all quit and went to other sailing clubs -- and so will I once my prepaid membership expires).
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Been taking sailing class there for a couple of months now. My sailing buddy Nicole and I enjoyed the first lesson so much that we signed up for the Admirals Club, which includes discounted sailing lessons all the way up to Intermediate Coastal Cruising and Cost Guard Certification up to a 40' boat. When you finish the lessons, you get to charter boats from their fleet, which includes some pretty fine yachts for day or overnight cruises on your own. -
Review from Amy C.
San Francisco, CA
7/5/2007
Can't attest to renting boats here but the Fourth of July cruise on the 90' Bay Lady is really good. We were not prepared for true sailing conditions however and got soaked by spray over the bow an hour before sunset and stayed wet and cold for two more hours. That being said, if you come prepared you will have a great time. Even if it is a date bring raingear and wear sensible shoes and socks. Do not sit in the front, stay back on the high side or near the stern - clearly the captain stayed dry.
From Pier 40, they take you out under the Bay Bridge over around Angel island where they put out coldcuts and pasta salad, and cookies; nothing fancy but it's nice for a snack. Bar opens after they raise the sails and coffee is always available.
At dusk they drop the sails and motor over to position a few hundred feet off the barge and wait for the fireworks. I have never been this close, ash was falling in the boat and we could hear every sizzle and pop as the fireworks exploded directly overhead.
List for next year: knit hat, gortex jacket and pants, scarf, gloves, fleece and a waterproof backpack. My amazing husband even had one of those little packable towels which I highly recommend. -
Review from Steve C.
San Francisco, CA
5/6/2010
I took sailing lessons here years ago. The boats and instructors were good, and I enjoyed most everything except ...
... dealing with the manager and sales people. I felt like I had just stepped onto a used car lot. Hidden fees behind every corner, sunk cost tactics (you need to pay another $1000 or risk losing the $3000 you've already payed in). In the end, I cut my losses and walked away. -
Review from Mark T.
San Francisco, CA
8/24/2011
This company has horrible customer service, I think due to the fact that they have so much demand for their classes that there's no need for them to care about generating customer loyalty. After arguing on the phone with them for about 30 minutes about their re-booking policy (months in advance of the scheduled class), I've decided to pursue my sailing lessons with a company that treats their customers better.
Comment from Drew H. of Spinnaker Sailing San Francisco 3/28/2012
This customer insisted that even though they purchased a 50%… More » -
Review from Dav Y.
San Francisco, CA
3/23/2009
Over two years I did the admiral club thing, which meant discounts on charters and courses up through ICC level. I had a blast. Haven't been back much in the last 3 years though since my daughter was born, but hoping to do a few charters this summer. The boats were decently maintained and I enjoyed every instructor I had.
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Review from Bill K.
San Francisco, CA
12/12/2010
I took lessons from Spinaker and eventually rented a boat on my own. Their equipment is dangerously undermaintained. The last trip I took the outboard motor failed and there was no one at Spinaker who could help tow me in! To make a long story short, it was a nightmare experience.
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Review from Dan Y.
Washington, DC
4/9/2005
I went here for sailing lessons. It's well located for san franciscans, and the staff is reasonably nice. has a bit of a mom and pop feel, which means friendly, but boats aren't in tip top shape and they could be a bit more professional.
