Can't say enough - we had a day-long lesson with Randall on our own boat. Randall was kind, very knowledgeable, and very patient - everything you'd want in a teacher. After one day, we're already feeling much more confident on the water. Very easy to book. Looking forward to working with the school for some more training. read more

A few months ago I got a sailing dinghy. After a couple of outings, it was clear that even in mercifully light winds, I was making mistakes and I could use a boost up the learning curve, so I emailed J World about a private lesson, and Wayne answered and set me up for a four-hour lesson with Jasper. In the marina parking lot, Jasper and I first worked through some rigging issues I had not been able to figure out from the manual. Then we spent a couple of hours tacking and jibing in the Alameda Estuary while he showed me the tunings that the rig offers, played with weight distribution, and even tried out the trapeze. On the last couple of downwind legs, we got the gennaker up and gybed and snaked to build downwind speed. That was a stretch goal for the afternoon as far as I was concerned. I love the way Jasper is fearless about the possibility of an unplanned swim, and not too anxious about a newbie skipper making mistakes while he crews, all the way up to and including dumping the boat (which I almost did). He just makes corrections and suggestions matter-of-factly while all the time positioning his weight and tuning the sails with high expertise. Update: Jasper and I went out again for some good times in higher winds. This time we actually did dump the boat near the bridge pier just SW of Treasure Island. Jasper was as-usual cool about the whole thing. Turns out someone on land called us in while we were righting the boat, and we even got a friendly check-in from the Coast Guard as we were sailing away. My bad that wriggling into the boat over the transom shut my radio off. I'm sure they hailed us before coming out and I could have saved them a trip. read more

What a fun time we had learning to sail with Josh, our instructor, at J World Performance Sailing School - yes, fun, but also hard work, as we learned how to navigate correctly up wind and down wind...but, to be out there on the water is pure bliss, and we'll be back for more! Whether you are a novice sailor or an intermediate one, you'll find professional hands-on learning at J-World, as well as sailing theory in the classroom. And now, my husband and I share a healthy activity, being empty-nesters. elizabeth & kenn read more

Did a weeklong beginning sailing course with Jasper and was highly impressed by the boat, the instruction and the overall experience. The "classroom" is definitely lacking (could use some better lighting and be much less cluttered) but luckily we only spend a short time "in class" and the large majority of the time was on the water. I highly recommend J-World sailing out of Jack London Square. read more

I attended a week-long advanced racing clinic at J-World this summer and the experience was phenomenal. I've been crewing competitively in Southern California for over 20 years. I've begun driving races recently and signed up with J-World to improve my boat handling skills, along with my skills with strategy and tactics. I don't think any experience can compare with the intensity of being on the water full time for five days straight. Wish it had been 10! My instructor, Josh, was quick to ascertain my skill level and challenged me to improve. He also extended our instruction time to include racing on two different nights in local club events. This was over and above what the course promised, and was a fantastic way to practice what we had learned. While the clinic was challenging, it was also respectful. I would highly recommend J-World and their staff as a venue for anyone who takes this sport seriously to up their game. If you are thinking about attending any J-World class, go for it! read more

Over the course of the couple of months, I have taken 3 classes with J/World: Racing clinic and Banderas Bay Regatta in Puerto Vallarta on a J/80, a J/105 clinic in San Diego and the Offshore Racing training on Hula Girl which took us from Alameda to San Diego. The overall experience has been excellent, the instructors are top notch both in terms of their sailing skills as well as their ability to teach. They are also incredibly nice people. The boats we used were excellent as well, well maintained and well equipped. Hula Girl for instance has a full set of serious racing sails in order to demonstrate and teach offshore racing under race conditions. J/World also delivers on their promise of being a resource for their alumni - all the questions I asked over email between the classes I took have been answered promptly and competently. If you are looking for a place to up your sail racing game, look no further! read more

I came here after reading most of the reviws (and bypassing the one about the old lady at the front desk). About three months ago I finally decided to start learning to sail ... a lifelong dream of mine. My father and I had wanted to do this together but he recently died of brain cancer so I thought I should do it anyways. Just like the other reviewer from PA, the blond at the front was rude and unhelpful. I think she must be new because she didnt seem to know really anything about sailing or the school and seemed more interested in her magazine than in me.. I wanted to sign up for there lessons and had cash in hand, but she sent me away telling me to call her husband later. I won't be calling that place and have found a school that actually wants students. read more

Just returned from the San Diego to Puerto Vallarta race aboard J-World's Hula Girl. I can say it was one of the best experiences of my life. I learned a lot and laughed a lot. The coaches were amazing. This has greatly deepened my knowledge and love for offshore racing. read more

I've taken courses (and certifications) from several other schools and nothing compares to the J/World teachers. This isn't really the place for the brand new sailor although they do a fine job at that level. Their true expertise is for those that want to step up their game a notch whether you are a cruiser or a racer. The classes are well structured and the instructors are the most knowledgable I've seen. They have the ability to guide you through complex issues a step at a time so that in the end, you walk away a better sailor. I just had a coaching session and will return in the near future. read more

Whether you want to begin sailing or hone your skills I can highly recommend J-World! The instructors walked us through an agenda, spent sufficient time on theory and then we applied that theory by hands-on...sailing. The instructors were professional yet personable and made the work, and this IS work, less burdensome. I have been sailing since a my youth, but learned more in 4 days than 30 years! I now have a greater appreciation for sailing. I know I can better handle it if I were to face a life-threatening situation, or rough weather...but most of all, I know that I will enjoy sailing that much more thanks to Wayne and the guys at J-World. read more

If you book with this outfit, be sure that your airfare and hotel reservations are refundable. They canceled on me and it cost me $1,700. They acted like they were doing me a favor to refund my payment to them. Travel insurance will not cover their cancellation unless they bankrupt. read more

J/World is responsible for some of the best days of my adult life. I've taken their US Sailing certification courses for Basic Keelboat and Basic Cruising over the years and can attest to the instructors' (and owner's) deep knowledge, effective teaching methods and positive attitudes. Not only are the instructors tops, but the student-teacher ratios are about the best I've seen across the schools in the Bay Area and they seem to be having at least as much fun teaching as the students are having sailing. Also unique to J/World is the teaching platform. Courses are taught on modern sportboats in top nick--the venerable J/80 for BK and a combination of the J/80 and J/105 (!) for BC. What I've enjoyed the most over the years and what I think J/World is really the best for is racing instruction. I've taken the racing clinic on the J/70, which went through trim, tactics and rig tuning with a specific focus on that boat and included a day of match racing. The Racing Week on the J/80, was extremely helpful in understanding trim and tactics and allowed me to spend half the time at the helm honing my driving technique. We're super fortunate here in the Bay Area to have two other world-class sailing schools (one of which I am also a member of), but what I think is special about J/World is the smaller class setting and student attention you get there. If you sail J/Boats, you'd be hard pressed to find more knowledgable instructors. Because J/World is run by competitive professional sailors, they do spend a significant time offshore racing during the summer months, which makes the class schedule a bit less frequent during that time, so plan accordingly and make sure to reach out to their office to express interest in a specific clinic or course as they build the their rosters. The good news is you can join them on those offshore races on their turbo'd Santa Cruz 50, Hula Girl, albeit for a price. read more

Excellent experience! I highly recommend this sailing school, their location at Jack London Square is great, their instructors are very knowledgeable, attentive and professional. I am planning on returning for further instruction. Heard their racing and off-shore programs are very competitive and amazing. read more

J World generously offered an asymetrical class 2.5 hrs long for $75 at the recent Strictly Sail boat show. The boat (J80) and coach were terrific. I I enjoyed reconnecting with tiller driving and running the estuary with a kite. Do not miss this chance at the Boat Show next year to cash in on a such great offer. read more

Fantastic sailing school. As a beginner, they get you out on water sailing from minute one. I recommend them highly.

I've taken classes at OCSC and Club Nautique - both are very good. But when it came to taking a private spinnaker lesson on my Olson 30 I chose J World for their performance sailing reputation. I was not disappointed. I dealt with Wayne while the school was in Mexico (winter) and we set up a class for when the school was back in Alameda (spring). I wanted a custom class that was mostly sailing with no classroom instruction if possible. I got what I asked for. No big deal. On the water the instructor (forgot his name - sorry) was very enthusiastic and extremely patient especially with some of the crew that had zero experience flying the kite. Once everyone was comfortable with basics we spent the whole day hoisting, dousing (leeward and weather), gybing endlessly in the south bay with 13 to 18 kts. We rotated positions and induced a few round-ups, but no death rolls ;) just to see how it felt. My crew has varying levels of experience and everyone's questions were answered no matter how basic or advanced. Overall, it was a great day on the water with a huge jump up on the learning curve for all involved. read more