Spinnaker Sailing San Francisco is seeking working investors—partners who want to actively help guide this 46-year-old sailing institution into the next era of experiential education, membership-based recreation, and modern maritime business.
This is a rare moment of alignment. A prime competitor in the San Francisco market has recently closed, leaving a meaningful gap in sailing education and access to the Bay. Demand remains strong, but the landscape has shifted—creating a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the right leadership and capital to step forward.
Spinnaker is uniquely positioned to do exactly that.
The business is turn-key, with an experienced, mission-driven team already in place. Our staff—5 full-time and 15 part-time employees—includes individuals who have dedicated decades to the company. My two sons play active, key roles, having worked in the business for the past seven years. I am prepared to remain involved for the foreseeable future in a support and transition role as an active U.S. Coast Guard–licensed captain and American Sailing Association Master Instructor.
Founded 46 years ago, Spinnaker has continually evolved with the times. During COVID, we made a decisive pivot from corporate charters to a modern sailing-school model—rewriting our curriculum from the ground up and building an extensive video library that now supports instruction, scalability, and brand reach. This shift laid the foundation for a more resilient, education-driven future.
Our physical footprint is equally irreplaceable. We operate from Pier 40 at South Beach Harbor, leasing land beneath a building we own in one of the most valuable waterfront locations in San Francisco. As a protected maritime tenant, we benefit from below-market land rent and long-standing tenure dating back to the harbor’s opening in 1985.
We control all super-prime frontage double slips from A-2 through C-1, including all space between those berths, as well as up to 100 feet of guest dock frontage directly adjacent to our office—an exceptionally rare configuration in San Francisco.
This opportunity is not about maintaining the status quo. It is about reimagining what a sailing school can be—blending legacy and trust with modern operations, membership models, digital education, and community-driven experiences.
We are seeking investors who want to participate, build, and lead—partners who recognize the rare convergence of brand, location, timing, and market opportunity, and who are excited to help write the next chapter of a storied San Francisco institution.
Facilities
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Main office: 1,344 sq ft (24’ x 56’) including conference/classroom space, reception area, private office, and galley (convertible back to office use)
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Workshop: 160 sq ft container workshop fully equipped with tools, repair materials, and fleet spares
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Storage: Three additional storage units (~250 sq ft each) leased from the Port of San Francisco
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Catering support: 80 sq ft secure storage area with ice machine and racks
Vessels (Owned)
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1985 (Fully Restored in 2023) Santa Cruz 50 "Yukon Jack" USCG certified for 25 passengers
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1999 J/105 “Wonder” (new mast and boom)
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1985 Catalina 30 Mk III
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1994 J/80 “Whippet”
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2001 J/80 “Nimbus”
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1993 J/80 “Wild Thang”
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Seven Andrews 21s (2003): Jim Seals, Buttercup, Glee, King King, Lucy, Chet, Alakazam
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20+ Ullman sail bags (Andrews 21)
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10+ North sail bags (J/80)
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Seven prime Quantum Racing sails (J/105)
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Three Andrews 21 trailers
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One J/80 double-axle trailer
Additional vessels on charter leaseback (private owners): J/105, J/109, J/111, Beneteau 37
Leased Docks – South Beach Harbor
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Guest Dock 1
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46 ft: A1, A3
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42 ft: A2, A4
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38 ft: B1, B2, B3, B4
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34 ft: C1, C3
Intellectual Property & Systems
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Custom FileMaker database running all operations
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POS system integrated with QuickBooks Online
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YouTube channel hosting instructional content
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100+ hours of video inventory, including scripts
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Websites: www.spinnaker-sailing.com
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Active Facebook and Instagram company pages
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Google Ads account
Miscellaneous Inventory
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VoIP phone system
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Office furniture, fixtures, filing cabinets
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Extensive tools, marketing collateral, brochures, and operational equipment
