Learn About Santa Barbara Sailing Center & Our Mission

ABOUT US

Since 1967, The Santa Barbara Sailing Center has been introducing people to the lifestyle and sport of sailing. We strive to enrich people’s lives by providing unique on-the-water experiences. We are proud to make boating easily accessible through our professional sailing instruction, skippered sailing charters, bareboat charters, club member activities, kayak and stand up paddle board excursions, and daily cruises along the pristine Santa Barbara coastline. Our mission is to encourage individuals of all ages and levels of experience to enjoy Santa Barbara from the water. We provide a spectacular platform and venue well suited for graduations, birthdays, anniversaries, proposals, weddings, and family gatherings. We have a comprehensive corporate team-building program which enables companies of all sizes to participate in sail boat races (regattas) , providing a new experience for their employees to grow and develop their leadership skills. We also offer peaceful memorial services for families and loved ones.

We invite you to join us on the water to experience your ultimate boating excursion...

At Santa Barbara Sailing Center, we have a large fleet of Catalina Yachts, Capri 22s, and J-24’s, as well as a large crew of certified instructors with impressive sailing resumes, knowledge, and experiences. We have provided professional instruction since 1967 and are committed to upholding our high standards of education and safety. The Santa Barbara Sailing Center is one of the largest accredited American Sailing Association (ASA) schools in the nation, and we are proud to have been chosen as the American Sailing Association School of the Year for two consecutive years.

Environmental Guidelines and Practices

It may be beneath the surface, but we’ve changed a lot around these docks. From the products we use to the things we do, we are making moves toward a better planet – one that is appreciated for all it is worth and more. Imagine a world so cared for that it no longer needs protecting.

We are Green Business Certified: we aim to prevent pollution, conserve natural resources, and exceed environmental regulatory requirements.

About Our Owners, The Abeds

Skip Abed, owner of The Santa Barbara Sailing Center, has lived in the area since 1989. He has worked at the Sailing Center since 1992 and purchased the business in 2000.

Skip started sailing when he was four years old on an O’Day sailboat on Pleasant Bay in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Growing up, sailing became a passion for Skip due to the exposure he had traveling to different parts of the world with his family. This allowed him to sail in the Mediterranean Sea, Persian Gulf, Red Sea, and Caribbean Sea (in addition to the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans). When Skip was 12 years old, he fell in love with chartering when he sailed from Rhodes, Greece along the Turkish coast for 10 days on a 61ft ketch. This is when he recognized that his passion for sailing could become a career. Skip enjoys sailing with his wife, Jen, and their two daughters, Hala and GiGi.