Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions about Sailing San Francisco Bay

  • 1.Are the prices listed per person or for the whole boat?

    The prices listed are for the whole boat. You can bring from 1-6 passengers on Mahalo and 1- 16 (20 for corporate trips) passengers on Bay Wolf and Osprey.


    All of our trips are private charters – no need to spend your time with a bunch of strangers, just your group and our crew.


  • 2. What should we wear?

    Please dress in layers (Long-sleeved shirt, sweatshirt, wind jacket is the minimum of what we'd suggest, more if you get cold), long pants or wind pants are recommended. Any extra warm clothes can be kept down below inside the boat if you don’t use them. Hats that can be tied on are also good.


    Please wear soft-soled, closed toe shoes, such as tennis shoes or sneakers; no heels, dress shoes or cowboy boots, which can become slippery on the wet decks. Also, don’t forget your cameras & sunscreen!


    For sunset and winter trips dress extra warmly. We recommend a warm jacket, gloves and a hat that doesn’t come off easily. You can also wear long underwear, leggings under jeans and or wind-pants if you get cold easily. Remember it will be cooler on the water than on the land because of the wind.


  • 3 May food and drinks be brought onboard?

    You may bring your own food and drinks, or we have a caterer who can supply food and deliver to the boat.


    We recommend finger foods (small sandwiches, cheese and crackers, pre-cut veggies, cookies, chocolate, etc), as they’re easiest to eat on the boat. If you’re bringing a cake for a birthday we recommend cupcakes. We have some cups plates cutlery and napkins on board, but please bring your own if you’re providing your own food for large groups. 


    We have NO corkage fees. You may bring your own beer, white wine and champagne. We only request a reasonable amount and no red wine and no hard liquor. While having a bit to drink on a boat is a lot of fun, having too much to drink can be a safety hazard, so we request people have a great time, but not overindulge. As Kirk says, “Friends don’t let friends fall off of sailboats.”


    We request one beer or one glass of wine per person per hour for safety. Figure that being on a boat is like driving a car as far as how much is safe to drink. 


  • 4. Are children allowed on all tours?

    Yes, children are allowed on all trips. If you have children under 4 years old, then call us and we can discuss. Sailing with kids under 4 can be stressful for the parents- depends on the kids and depends on the parents.


    Kids from 5-18 can get involved in the sailing of the boat. We have a lot of experience with kids on the boats. Give us a call and we can discuss this.


    Children 5 years old and older are fine if there is at least a 1-1 adult/kid ratio and if the kids listen well to instructions (safety instructions are important). We enjoy teaching kids and teenagers how to sail.


  • 5. Are dogs allowed on the boats?

    Yes we are dog friendly! Bring your puppy for a sail.

  • 5. Do you have a set itinerary or schedule for the San Francisco Sailing Trips?

    Every trip is different. The route that we take is flexible, and is somewhat dependent on where you sail out of.


    There is a general counter-clockwise route that is often followed although the winds and tides often dictate the direction we’ll go. This route often includes the following for a typical 4 hour trip:


    Sailing along the San Francisco or Sausalito waterfront for an up-close view.


    Sailing under (or near) the Golden Gate Bridge for an awesome view of the Pacific Ocean and the Marin headlands.


    Spending time sailing out past the Golden Gate Bridge (depends upon the weather and currents).


    Sail back under the Golden Gate Bridge, cruising along the Presidio, Crissy Field, Aquatic Park, Fort Mason, Fisherman’s Wharf. See the Liberty Ship Jeremiah O'Brian.


    Continue along the waterfront past the financial district and under the Bay Bridge, approaching AT&T Ball Park by water, close enough to cheer with the crowd and hope for water-bound home run.


    Then sail back up under the Bay Bridge to Alcatraz Island, where we get a very up-close view of Alcatraz.


    Sail past Angel Island, for a great view of that state park.


    Sailing San Francisco Bay can also include loops around Angel Island and picnics or barbeques at Angel Island. We have dropped people off at AT&T Ball Park, before the Giants game, sailed up in the North Bay to see the Brothers Lighthouse, sailed the South Bay to see the ships in dry-dock, sailed out past the Bonita lighthouse or cruised the Alameda estuary to view the Port of Oakland.


    Every trip is different depending upon the winds, currents, time of day, wildlife, location of other boats and the desires of the clients. Your own private yacht with a captain: If there is something you want to see, let us know.


  • 6. Can we stop somewhere during the trip?

    Most of our trips do not include a stop during the trip. We usually just sail around the bay because there is much to see from the water and stopping points are limited.


     Some destinations for stopping at include:

    • Sam’s Anchor Café in Tiberon for lunch 
    • Angel Island picnic or barbecue (see pricing) We have been having a great time with our Angel Island Barbecues.
    • Pier 40 in San Francisco for dinner
    • Sausalito stop at Rd 3 for a short walk to Bocce Ball. 

    Note that stopping somewhere can add an hour or hours to the trip. Some locations have docking fees. Some locations are limited on weekends due to lack of sufficient docking facilities. 


    We can also do a one-way trip, dropping you off at a location for a meal, and you can catch public transportation or a taxi back to your car.


  • 7. Is there any narration provided?

    Our captains have been sailing San Francisco Bay for over 20 years and know nautical information, history and interesting sights. We can talk as much or little as you like. We will often be discussing the currents, the wind, the sights on the shore, the different boats, the Golden Gate Bridge, the animals and birds we see, etc. There are a great deal of interesting sights on a Bay Area sailing trip. We enjoy talking about sailing on San Francisco Bay and the history of the Bay. Each trip we see something different.

  • 8. What activities do passengers participate in?

    We encourage people to help steer the boat and learn about sailing. People can help as much or as little as they like. Our captains enjoy teaching people how to sail and will hand you the helm for as much time as you like. There are many beautiful sights out in the San Francisco Bay, including Alcatraz, Angel Island, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the San Francisco skyline and waterfront. There are great photo opportunities that include wildlife and other boats too. Many passengers prefer to just relax with a beer and unwind from a hectic work schedule. Some enjoy hearing the captain explain the sights and talk about the local history.

  • 9. What do people tend to enjoy most about these cruises?

    Different people enjoy different parts of the trip. Sometimes it is the thrill of seeing dolphins jump outside the Golden Gate Bridge, or seeing the sunset, or getting to steer in high winds, or having a conversation with your family and friends or bonding with your co-workers.


    Sailing San Francisco Bay is also a chance to unwind and recharge your internal batteries. There are no outside distractions, just you, the wind, the water and the boat.


    Sailing on Mahalo, Bay Wolf or Osprey, is your own private San Francisco yacht with a captain. Your choice of destinations, your choice of food and drink, you can steer if you want or have the captain take care of everything. Sailing on the San Francisco Bay is something that you have always wanted to do and you will remember the experience for years.


  • 10. How do I book my trip?

    Give us a call and we can easily help you choose a trip to suit your group. We just need some contact information and a credit card for the deposit.


    On the phone we will ask you for an estimate of the number of passengers on the trip. We understand this often changes, so you can get back to us on the exact count. We will also ask where you want to sail out of, since we sail out of 3 locations.


    We will then send you a confirmation letter with all sorts of great information on it for your trip. 


    That’s it. Very simple.


  • 11. Is there an enclosed cabin where people can sit inside?

    There is an enclosed cabin with a small sitting area on Osprey and Mahalo, although sitting downstairs is discouraged because it’s the least covid safe area on the boat. Although getting seasick on the boats is rare, it can happen more downstairs because you can’t see the horizon. 


    Most of the sailing time is spent up on deck or in the cockpit. There is also a custom canvas dodger outside that keeps people dry and warm while in the cockpit The cockpit or the deck are the best places to see the views and experience the sailing adventure.


    All boats have a head (bathroom).


  • 12. What if the weather is bad?

    Sailing San Francisco Bay year-round provides many excellent sailing days. Rain in the summer and fall is very rare. On windy days there are places with plenty of wind or places with less wind – we get to choose. On foggy days there are parts of the bay that are fog-free. Sausalito is the perfect starting place for a Bay Area sailing trip, because Sausalito has quick access to the Golden Gate Bridge and is usually sunny and warm when San Francisco is totally socked in with fog.


     

    In the Winter, if it is raining, we will simply reschedule for another time or cancel the trip and return all of your money. Some charter operations force you to sail in the rain. If it is raining, you do NOT have to go sailing.


  • 13. Do we have to wear life jackets (PFDs)?

    Although the coast guard does not require that you wear them, we do. Safety is incredibly important to us. That is something you want in your choice of a charter company. Our Type II life jackets are comfortable and will not impact your enjoyment of the sailing.

  • 14. What are the pickup locations?

    We have three convenient locations.

    • San Francisco – Both Osprey and Bay Wolf can do pickups in San Francisco at Pier 40 (next to Oracle ballpark in South Beach).
    • Alameda  - Osprey is located at Marina Village Yacht Harbor in Alameda. The address is 1070 Marina Village Parkway. There is a large parking lot with free parking.
    • Sausalito – Bay Wolf and Mahalo are based in Sausalito and both have convenient, free parking

    There is an additional docking fee for San Francisco pick-up.


    When you book your trip, we will email you more information to easily find the boat.

  • 15. Where do I park?

    Mahalo in Sausalito has a large free parking lot that always has a lot of space. directions page.

     

    Bay Wolf in Sausalito has free street parking on a very quiet side-street. We will email the directions to you when you book your trip.

     

    Osprey is located at Marina Village Yacht Harbor in Alameda. The address is 1070 Marina Village Parkway. There is a large parking lot with free parking at that address.

     

    Pier 40 San Francisco: There are a number of lots with in a few blocks of the dock. Often street parking is available. There is also a short-term loading zone right at pier 40.Captain Kirk’s favorite parking is at the intersection of Bryant and Embarcadero, which is just north of Pier 40 (toward the Bay Bridge) where the parking lot is actually on a pier: Impark 541 The Embarcadero San Francisco, CA 94105

  • 16. What is the cancellation policy?

    Our cancellation and refund policy is as flexible and friendly as we can make it. 


    If the day of your trip doesn’t work for you, give us as much notice as you can and we are happy to move the day of your trip, or give you a gift certificate for the full amount of your trip to be used for a future trip. There is no charge for these services.


    If your trip is canceled due to weather (rain, etc.) at the captain's discretion, we will reschedule, issue a gift certificate or refund the full amount (we will pay the fees). We will keep in touch with you if there is rain in the forecast. Because the weather often changes quickly, we typically wait until the last minute to cancel for bad weather. If it is a day with just a little bit of rain or chance of sprinkles, we may keep the trip going – we can chat with you before the trip to make sure that the trip will be successful.


    We do understand that sometimes things happen when you do need to cancel.  

    • If there is more than one week before the trip we will charge you a small fee (15%) of the trip price. This charge covers the costs, the credit card fees, and our time to set up the trip.
    • If you cancel within a week of the trip, there is a 50% cancellation fee.
    • If you cancel within 24 hours of the trip the cancellation fee is 100% if we have turned down other trips for that day and are not able to rebook your time slot. 

    Other companies have large cancellation fees up to 50- 100% for all trips, and we choose not to do that. We try to remain flexible and compassionate with all our policies. Our motto is “Sailing with Friends.” We try to treat you well.


  • 17. How will we practice social distancing on the boat?

    Your group will start out on the front of the boat in the quiet air at the dock, and then you may move to the back of the boat once you are out in the wind. Many people choose to stay on the front of the boat once they find out that it’s the best seat on the boat. You will be sitting outside, at least 20 feet away from our captain. The captain will let you know if it may get splashy and suggest you move to the rear of the boat.

  • 18. What about limiting contact through waivers, payment and tipping?

    We will also be emailing out a link to our standard waivers that are signed at the beginning of all trips and request they be completed before the trip. 


    We always take a credit card on the phone for payment, so that contact is not an issue. We suggest you put the tip for the crew on your credit card to further limit contact. You may call in your desired tip amount to the office after your trip, or you may put it on when you book the trip.


Share by: