Captain Kirk

My name is Kirk Miller and I am the owner of Captain Kirk’s San Francisco Sailing. I hold a 100-ton US Coast Guard Master Mariner license. I am a certified instructor with American Sailing Association (ASA) for basic keelboat (BKB), basic coastal cruising (BCC) and coastal navigation. I have taught at several San Francisco sailing schools.

I have over 30 years sailing experience including 20 years experience sailing San Francisco Bay and one ocean crossing. I have sailed across the Pacific, from the Galapagos Islands to the Marquesas (French Polynesia, 22 days/ 3,000 miles). I have also sailed to the southern tip of Baja California in Mexico, a few times.

I enjoy every sailing trip and make sure that my sailing guests have a great time as well.

I have a Masters Degree (Civil Engineering) from Stanford University. I have retired from a 20 year career in the engineering field to pursue my love of San Francisco sailing. I am married with two children, one in College, and one in the US Coast Guard.

Captain Rod Mayer

Captain Rod Mayer is a native Californian who has been operating boats for over 31 years. He has logged 3,021 days (8.3 years) on the water as a skipper and navigated over 62 thousand nautical miles within the San Francisco Bay and Pacific Ocean. He has sailed six trans-Pacific crossings between California and Hawaii. In August of 2021 he completed his first solo crossing from Hawaii to San Francisco sailing 2,885 miles within 20 days. He has spent as long as 45 days (six weeks) on the ocean without sight of land during one of his sailing adventures by documenting a rowboat race from California to Hawaii.

In May of 2022, he and his wife completed a 4,000-mile 222-day sail from San Francisco as far south as Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and back up to the San Francisco Bay. Be it coastal cruising, ocean passage making, or sailing the San Francisco Bay, just being on the water fulfills his soul. 

In March of 2015, he began working as a charter boat captain on the San Francisco Bay. He currently holds a US Coast Guard 100-ton Master Mariner credential. He is ASA sailing certified and is a US Sailing/Powerboat instructor.

His greatest pleasure is meeting people from all over the world who book a trip with us so he can share with them the excitement and memorable experiences of sailing and touring the iconic sights of the San Francisco Bay…He may even throw in a few sea stories.

Captain Ruby

Captain Ruby grew up in a boating family on the California coast, just north of San Francisco. She learned to sail at age ten, spending her summers exploring the local bay on dinghies, and helping her father at his boatyard. She spent seven years teaching, and later running, the youth sailing summer programs at the Inverness Yacht Club. Building on these formative outdoor experiences, she went on to study and work in fields related to the environment, guiding backpacking and rafting trips, facilitating youth wilderness programs, landscaping, farming, studying environmental politics at UC Davis and working in the environmental non-profit field. She began working in the maritime industry again in 2019, finding invaluable mentorship and friendship as a deckhand on charter boats with the amazing crew at Captain Kirk's SF Sailing. She holds a 100-ton US Coast Guard Master Mariner license. 

Ruby's own lifelong connection to the water and experience on boats has instilled in her a belief in the power that sailing can have for people of all kinds, when made accessible and safe. She loves the way boats can bring people closer to nature, attuning us to the patterns and character of the places we're in. On the San Francisco Bay, whether it's a sunny picnic day or a high-wind adventure, she looks forward to collaborating with our clients and crew to navigate the conditions and have the best trip possible. 

Cap. Efe Akmen

My name is Efe Akmen and I hold a 100-ton US Coast Guard Master Mariner license. I grew up in Turkey where I started sailing at the age of 10.

I have over 25 years of sailing experience including 8 years of experience sailing in San Francisco Bay. Before I moved to California I represented Turkey in International Regattas, won medals in national championships, and brought sailing to adults, people with disabilities, and kids from all around the world. Since I moved here I raced in J/111 and J/105 fleets. I love meeting new people and sharing my joy of sailing and nature with them.

My latest sailing adventures include sailing in the great South Pacific Ocean in 2020 and sailing along the Californian coast in 2017.

I have been sailing boats for Captain Kirk's since 2014 and very much enjoy the variety of trips I can provide for our customers whether it is a high-level team building event or just a sit back and chill Bay Tour.

Sue Bobette

Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, 
I now split my time between California and Seattle, working remotely.

Previously working as a biotech microbiologist, and running a couple of small auto repair shops, I now get a lot of satisfaction in helping people get the trip they want at a company that is about providing people with a lot of fun and relaxation in a stressful world. I enjoy meeting a lot of people on the phone. I learned to sail around 2010, after spending years as a proficient white water raft guide. I love many outdoors activities.

Captain. Fiona

Captain Fiona is a passionate sailor who has spent most of her life in the Bay Area, where she first learned to sail on Tomales Bay. Starting with Lasers and Flying Juniors, Fiona quickly developed a deep love for the sport, eventually teaching sailing to local youth. The sense of independence and responsibility that comes with navigating the water was an invaluable lesson and continues to inspire her journey.

Fiona joined the company in 2019, beginning her professional sailing career as a crew member. Under the mentorship of experienced captains, she gained valuable insights into vessel operations and earned her Master 100-Ton Captain’s License, opening the door to more advanced sailing opportunities. Fiona now works on a variety of vessels on the bay. She has since expanded her experience with offshore sailing, completing yacht deliveries along the West Coast. 

Beyond sailing, Fiona enjoys surfing and swimming in California's chilly waters. She is particularly fond of San Francisco Bay, with its diverse wildlife and ever-changing conditions that keep each day exciting. Fiona is constantly humbled by the power of the ocean and loves sharing this awe with her clients, ensuring they feel both safe and inspired on the water.