A BIT ABOUT KIRA MAIXNER
Setting Sail on the San Francisco Bay since 2012
Hi, I’m Captain Kira. I moved from Colorado to the Bay Area in 2012, and shortly after, found myself on a wet and wild ride aboard a J/88 racer. From that very first sail, drenched, exhilarated, and grinning ear to ear, I was hooked. I started sailing 3–5 times a week. I racked up my ASA certifications and before long, I was chartering boats on weekends and scheming up sailing adventures from San Francisco to San Diego.
Before my days were ruled by tides and telltales, I worked in tech and marketing, helping make boating more accessible worldwide. From 2013 to 2017, I was part of the founding team at GetMyBoat—the “Airbnb for boats.” As brand and communications lead, I shaped the company’s voice, established and grew its social media, launched a newsletter to 35k subscribers from scratch, and scored media hits with outlets like the New York Times, Washington Post, CNN, Forbes, Yahoo, and ABC.
Eventually, I launched my own digital marketing consultancy, focusing on SEO, social media, and branding for marine industry clients. That background still comes in handy—I approach sailing education and community building the same way I approached marketing: with strategy, creativity, and a passion for connection.My racing journey kicked into high gear in 2016 with a Miami-to-Havana regatta that landed us first place in the RORC Islands in the Stream Series. That same year, I joined a Rolex Big Boat Series team and helped take third. I earned my OUPV USCG Captain’s License in 2018 and upgraded to a 100-Ton Master’s License in 2020.
These days, I’m certified to teach some of ASA’s most advanced courses, including 106, 107, and 108. Most recently I became one of American Sailing’s few female Master Instructors.From 2020 to 2023, I helped manage Modern Sailing School, developing programs for students and members. I’m especially proud of reviving the long-dormant Wind & Women program and leading the club’s first all-female race team. I love teaching all sailors, but there’s just something magical about an all-women crew—supportive, powerful, determined, and, frankly, badass. I continue to run women’s-only ASA courses world-wide, coach all-women racing teams, and strive to create space for more women to step up and take the helm.
Offshore sailing has taken me far—literally. I completed my first Atlantic crossing in 2022 via the ARC+, sailing 800 nm from Las Palmas, Gran Canaria to Mindelo, Cabo Verde, then 2,150 nm to Grenada. Since then, I’ve logged four Pacific crossings, including a 5,000 nm run from San Francisco-to-Hawaii-to-Alaska. In 2023, I joined the crew of City Lights (a Santa Cruz 52) for the Rolex Big Boat Series, where we took third. That led to the 2024 offshore circuit and the Pacific Cup—a 2,070 nm race to Hawaii—followed by the delivery home.
As a delivery captain, I’ve sailed 50+ ft yachts along the California coast and the Pacific side of Baja California Sur. I’ve also taught and sailed in Baja and the Caribbean, but no matter how warm the water, San Francisco Bay keeps calling me home. I’ve worked as crew aboard USA 76, a retired America's Cup yacht (84 ft of pure thrill), racing and showing tourists what speed and splash really feel like. Additionally, I spent two seasons with SF Whale Tours aboard Kitty Kat — an 80 ft power catamaran chasing whales, dolphins, and the occasional great white off the Farallon Islands.
Working aboard commercial vessels gave me far more than sea time—it instilled in me the values that dedicated mariners embody: an unwavering commitment to safety, sharp seamanship, precise navigation, and the ability to read and respect weather in all its forms. Delivering yachts along the rugged Pacific coast gave me hands-on experience managing vessels in dynamic and often challenging conditions. I’ve learned the deep responsibility that comes with moving boats, people, and businesses safely and efficiently through busy harbors and open oceans alike. These lessons—built on miles, mistakes, and mentorship—are the foundation I bring to the docks today, and they shape how I teach, coach, and lead every day on the water.
Through it all, my mission stays the same: get more people on the water, share my love of sailing, and help others feel empowered at the helm. I believe sailing should be fun, inclusive, and confidence-building—especially for women who may not have seen themselves at the wheel ever before. That’s why I created Captain Kira. I want to continue to create immersive and supportive experiences where skills grow, friendships form, and the wind is always at our backs.
