Small Classes. High Standards. Real Readiness.

US Sailing certification training, aligned with the standard and designed to exceed it every time.

Pacific Wayfinder Sailing Academy is a boutique US Sailing Accredited Keelboat School based in Alameda, California.

We believe sailing education should be personal, practical, and standards-based. Our courses are intentionally small, thoughtfully structured, and designed for sailors who want to build real confidence, not simply complete a course. 

Aligned with US Sailing standards. Designed to exceed them. Every time.

Through our collaboration with Rabbit Hole Sailing, LLC and Califia Charters, LLC, students have access to a complete US Sailing instruction, certification, and sailing development pathway from Basic Keelboat through advanced cruising, passage making, and specialty programs.

We are small by choice. That allows us to provide more individual attention, stronger skill development, and a better learning environment for sailors preparing for the next adventure in their sailing journey.

Please use the links below to join the appropriate interest list or request information about upcoming courses.

We are currently offering:

• Basic Cruising
• Bareboat Cruising
• Navigation 1
• Coastal Navigation
• Group Sails – She Sails Sunday & Windy Wednesday

With the addition of SV Estelle, which is scheduled for tuning with the rigger in the next week, we expect to begin offering the following courses in late July:

• Basic Keelboat
• Performance Keelboat

We are fine-tuning the Coastal Passage Making program and evaluating a focused student survey. We expect to offer the following courses in late summer and fall:

• Coastal Passage Making
• Celestial Navigation
• Offshore Passage Making

Looking ahead:

We have started the long planning process for a three-day Safety at Sea seminar and hands-on course in May 2027. We are also building curriculum for additional classroom, over-the-water, and hands-on clinics.

Custom & Private Courses

In addition to our scheduled US Sailing certification courses, Pacific Wayfinder Sailing Academy offers custom and private training options for individuals, couples, families, and small groups.

These bespoke programs are designed around your goals, experience level, schedule, and next sailing objective. Whether you are preparing for a certification course, building confidence before chartering, refreshing specific skills, or developing a custom pathway toward cruising, passage making, or boat ownership, we can work with you to design a focused training plan.

Possible custom training topics include:

• Docking and close-quarters maneuvering
• Crew communication and onboard roles
• Sail trim and boat handling
• Reefing and heavy-weather preparation
• Anchoring and mooring practice
• Navigation and route planning
• Night sailing preparation
• Charter readiness
• Skills refreshers before certification courses
• Family or private group training
• Owner-on-board coaching

Our custom courses are personal, practical, and designed to meet students where they are while maintaining the safety, quality, and seamanship standards that guide all Pacific Wayfinder programs.

Tell us what you are looking for, and we will look at building it into the Pacific Wayfinder pathway. Your voice matters. We want students to feel prepared, confident, and ready for the next step in their sailing adventure, and we take pride in our role in that journey.

Cancellation Policy

Pacific Wayfinder Sailing Academy courses are intentionally small so the student-to-instructor ratio supports a strong learning environment. Because each student seat is reserved in advance, the following policy applies to student cancellations, school cancellations, and course rescheduling.

Student Cancellation Policy

Refunds are based on the first scheduled day of the course:

• 30 or more days before the course begins: Full refund
• 10 to 29 days before the course begins: 50% refund
• Fewer than 10 days before the course begins: No refund
• Courses scheduled and paid for less than 10 days before the course offering are non-refundable.
• If space is available in a future course, PWSA may allow a one-time transfer at its discretion.

Requests to cancel or transfer a registration must be submitted in writing to learn@pacificwayfinderacademy.com.

School Cancellation or Reschedule Policy

Pacific Wayfinder Sailing Academy may cancel or reschedule a course when necessary due to weather, safety concerns, vessel availability, instructor availability, minimum enrollment, or other circumstances that may affect the quality or safety of the course.

• If PWSA cancels a course before it begins, students will be offered the option to transfer to a future course date or receive a full refund.
• If PWSA reschedules a course before it begins, students will be offered the option to attend the rescheduled course date or transfer to a future course date. If neither option is available or workable, students may request a refund.
• If a course has already begun and a portion must be postponed due to weather, safety, or operational concerns, PWSA will make reasonable efforts to reschedule the remaining course time or provide an appropriate make-up option.
• PWSA is not responsible for travel, lodging, time off work, or other incidental expenses incurred by students in connection with a canceled or rescheduled course.