Captain's Blog

June 2024 – Golden Gate Ashes

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 21:08:54 GMT

In early June we spread ashes from our boat Bay Wolf just past the Golden Gate Bridge. It was a lovely morning, peaceful, quiet with a few dolphins and a light breeze. We scattered roses and rang our ships bell as the ashes spread into the sea. Thank you for trusting us with this important ceremony. Capt Kirk and crew.

The Surprising Gift of Clear Skies

Tue, 18 Jul 2023 21:00:20 GMT

It was a beautiful, Thursday evening in mid-July on the San Francisco Bay. Our guests who were visiting from Kansas City, along with their 2 grandchildren from Colorado, prepared for their summer evening sail, hoping to witness the breathtaking beauty of the Bay Area at sunset. Little did they know, they were about to be treated to a surprise that would make their experience all the more incredible—a rare, fog-free evening on the bay!

Starting in Sausalito, we motored past The Spinnaker restaurant and waved to the tiny people on shore who were enjoying their walk along the Sausalito waterfront. With each passing minute, the sailboat drew closer to San Francisco Bay's iconic landmarks. Against the backdrop of a clear evening sky, the Golden Gate Bridge slowly emerged, and everyone quickly took out their phones to capture the incredible views from underneath the bridge. We continued our long tradition of howling under the bridge, listening to our cool echos as they bounced away from us.

As we continued our journey through the gate, one of the grandkids took the helm as we slowly turned around and pointed back towards the bridge, unwinding the headsail to catch the wind. The skyline of the city came into view on the right hand side as we sailed under the bridge again. We were able to see a clear-shot view of the Transamerica Pyramid, Coit Tower, and the Bay Bridge.

We glided through the waters, as the grandkids switched on and off driving the boat, and Captain Kirk talked about the historic landmarks and stories of the San Francisco Bay. As we arrived on the east side of the bay, we turned again, this time headed straight towards Alcatraz. The sun slowly started to set, and we headed back towards Sausalito, enjoying the presence and company of each other.

The San Francisco Bay showcased its breathtaking beauty to this lucky family, leaving a memorable mark of their time sailing on the bay. The serendipitous absence of fog revealed a clear and calm sky, transforming an already memorable experience into something truly remarkable. As the sailboat returned to Sausalito, our guests disembarked with new memories of not only the bay, but also the precious time spent with each other.

Take a look below to see some of the photos and a video taken of our lovely surprisingly-clear trip!

Supporting Future Service Dogs with Canine Companions

Mon, 10 Jul 2023 20:31:44 GMT

Captain Kirk has been supporting Canine Companions for the past 6 years! Captain Kirk and his family primarily started as volunteer puppy raisers in Palo Alto, CA where their daughter, Romi raised her first dog during her senior year of high school. Now volunteering in a different way, Kirk and his family offer their time transporting these 8-week old puppies to the airport to send these puppies off to their volunteer raisers across the states. These future service dogs are born at their headquarters in Santa Rosa, CA and sent out to their volunteer puppy raisers who raise and teach them basic commands before entering professional, task-related training. Kirk and his family have transported a total of 45 puppies (and more to come!) to and from headquarters to San Francisco International Airport. Come sailing with us and we will donate part of your charter to Canine Companions. Learn more at: canine.org.

Below is a video we made of the most recent batch of dogs we transported to SFO!

Angel Island Picnic

Tue, 27 Jun 2023 15:29:34 GMT

Welcome to Angel Island. We had another wonderful trip from San Francisco for an Angel Island picnic and history walk. Two boats with 30 passengers.

We started from San Francisco at 10 am and motor-sailed out to the Golden Gate Bridge. Under the bridge we got to see the Marin headlands and the Point Bonita Lighthouse. We got to howl under the bride - and hear our echo. Everyone got a hand at steering the boat as we went over to the calmer area near Angel Island. We saw LOTS of harbor seal sleeping on the docks at the island - they did not seem to care that we were visiting.

Great picnic lunch with more sandwiches, snacks, desserts and drinks than could be eaten. Some of the group decided to hike around the island on the fire road (2 1/2 hour hike). Others decided to go on the more leisurely Angel Island history walk with Captain Kirk. Great views of Tiburon, Belvedere, the entire San Francisco bay entrance and the Golden Gate Bridge. Discussion about the history of San Francisco Bay, the Gold Rush, Civil war, building of the bridges, the end of the ferry services up to modern maritime traffic.

Sailing back to San Francisco at the end of the day it was windy along the "slot". A few brave souls got some salt water spray on the front of the boat. The sun was out with a few puffy clouds and just a hint of fog. A perfect day.

Sailin' Savvy

Thu, 23 Sep 2021 00:23:37 GMT

Step it up a notch. Put on your finest sailing garb and take a cruise in the bay! Our guests today looked pretty dapper, picnicking and watching the world go by under their jazzy straw hats.

These hep-cats started the morning in Alameda, our newest home for Osprey. It was a calm, quiet morning, and as with fall sailing, the day turned out to be warm and pleasant. No more wild gusty winds like in the summer - September is the start of the best season to enjoy the SF Bay.

Dock & Dine

Mon, 09 Aug 2021 23:45:26 GMT

Why not escape the cloudy, foggy summer in San Francisco? Osprey met our intrepid travelers at Pier40 in San Francisco and set out, using the chilly winds and favorable tides to carry us across the central bay. Breaking into the warm sunny skies over Sausalito, Tiburon, and Belvedere, we could just begin to see our final destination: lunch at the historic dock and restaurant, Sam’s Anchor Cafe.

Our custom lunch trips bring lots of smiles and laughter - such fun to end the sailing adventure, glide into the dock, and enjoy delicious seafood & cocktails waiting for you. We store all your belongings so you can fully enjoy an escape from the average day and spoil you and your friends to a real icon of the bay sailing scene.

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There’s no better lunch after a morning sail: Sam’s Anchor café looks like a yacht club from another era with its wooden deck looking out over the dock, beautiful bay windows and crisp white wooden siding. Just sail in, tie up at the dock, and climb the gangway to await one of the best dock-side lunches in the bay.

What's at the Bottom of the Double Rainbow?

Mon, 05 Jul 2021 00:09:51 GMT

Sausalito is the pot of gold at the bottom of the rainbow, of course! We started our trip today from our gem of a home harbor in Sausalito, where the water sparkles green and blue and the sun is usually more reliable than our foggy neighbor San Francisco. No rain was in the forecast, but we found a heavy morning marine layer as we headed out to the Golden Gate Bridge. As the trip came to an end, the sun came out, burned away the fog, and gave us a gorgeous sunny sky with a double rainbow for the end of our sailing cruise!

But, where in the world is this beautiful place, you wonder? It’s a lovely little seaside community just north of San Francisco. Vibrant with a long history and on-going tradition of boat building, sailing, and fine dining along the winding shoreline, Sausalito has become a relaxed, sunny destination for anyone looking for views of the water. Come sail with us and explore our home harbor after!

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She Said Yes!

Wed, 07 Apr 2021 21:43:13 GMT

You must already know that the best place to catch a sunset from one of our sailboats on the bay. But did you also know a sunset is the best place to get engaged? On Wednesday night, in front of the sparkling San Francisco skyline under a brilliant sunset, He popped the question - and She said yes!

It all started days earlier when Captain Kirk booked the couple’s private sunset cruise. It was a carefully planned surprise. Our guest wanted everything to be perfect, so he came ahead with snuggly blankets and yellow-gold pillows to make sure his bride-to-be had every comfort. Each detail was accounted for - champagne, twinkly lights, and most importantly, the timing.

Baywolf came to personally pick up the happy couple from Pier 40 in San Francisco, an hour before sunset. The afternoon winds died down, and the last warm breezes gently filled the sails as we headed out towards Treasure Island. The lovely lady had no idea we were on our way to the perfect photo spot to capture the big moment.

Captain Kirk was in contact with the photography team posted on land on Treasure Island. When we were in just the right spot in front of the island, Kirk gave the signal and our guest dropped to one knee, took out the ring, and asked his beautiful partner to be his wife - cue cheers, smiles, smooches, and a professional photoshoot on the boat to capture the moment forever.

The photographer flew a drone around Baywolf, capturing the lights of the skyline and setting sun, a dramatic backdrop for their intimate moment.

-Crewmember Heather

Neptune Ash Scattering

Wed, 07 Apr 2021 21:30:57 GMT

The estuary was quiet - it was just Osprey in the mellow morning sunshine on the whole of the bay. The container ships were docked, the loading cranes were still, and it seemed like the marina was sleeping in for Martin Luther King holiday.

But Osprey was on an important mission - we were out for a San Francisco Bay ash scattering. Everyone gathered on the front deck near the bow of the ship, enjoying the fresh breezes and bay bridge views on the horizon. No one spoke, no one stirred, it was more of a meditation than a cruise. We took care to come up to the lighthouse on Yerba Buena Island, enjoying impressive coastline views of the foaming breaker waves and lighthouse on the hilltop.

We motored under the Bay bridge, listening to the hum and roar of the cars passing overhead. Then bursting out on the bay water with crystal clear views of the Ferry Building and the San Francisco waterfront ahead and lovely treasure island behind us, the memorial started.

Our guests stood and lined up at the rail, holding red and yellow roses. The petals floated away with the scattering ceremony, bright dashes of color floating out to sea in the gentle water.

-Crewmember Heather

Always Something Different on San Francisco Charters

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 01:21:03 GMT

We are continually surprised by the interesting things that we see on San Francisco Bay. This past week we were thrilled to see two very different ships on the Bay.

During a Sausalito sailing charter, we saw the first ship: the USCG Cutter Healy. The Healy is one of only two icebreakers that the US Coast Guard has for Arctic operations. The Healy had a fire onboard this fall and came down to Mare Island for repairs. We got to see the ship at San Francisco Pier 19. We were able to get up close and see the shape of the hull. The boat rides up on the ice and the weight of the ship breaks the ice - very interesting. We saw the Healy just after we completed an Alcatraz Island tour (where we circled the entire island and learned about its fascinating history).

The second ship was a type of ship called a "Heavy Lift ship". This ship is designed to carry very heavy and very large cargo over the ocean. This ship was bringing new cranes for the Oakland Harbor overseas from China.

We were coming down the Oakland Estuary, part of our Oakland Sailing Charters starting in Jack London Square. We saw the ship just as they were unloading the third crane off of the ship. Once the crane is off-loaded they will then raise the crane portion up to the height required to off load cargo from the container ships. We get to see the ships unloading as part of our Oakland Harbor tours. It was fascinating to see this ship and the unloading operation—who knows what we will see next time.

Proposal on the Bay!

Sun, 10 Jan 2021 01:17:55 GMT

We slowed Baywolf down in front of Angel Island and Vinay proposed—she said YES. The ring was beautiful, the location perfect and the couple is now off on their new adventure.

We had sailed out under the Golden Gate Bridge and saw some sea lions and dolphins. We then back along the San Francisco waterfront, passing Crissy field, Aquatic park, Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39. We were able to motor into pier 39 and see the sea lions up close. It back over to Alcatraz where we got very close— from this vantage, we could see all the buildings, the best way to learn some Alcatraz Island history.

We are thrilled that we were able to be part of the planning for this big day. Contact us if you want to arrange a proposal on the boat.

-Captain Kirk

Engagement on the Bay

Fri, 13 Dec 2019 01:11:21 GMT

What an amazing day! December 12 is Toby and Samara's engagement anniversary and I was thrilled to be part of their special day.

After Toby proposed to his beautiful girlfriend Samara on a bike ride in the Marin Headlands, he surprised her with a cruise out of Sausalito on our sailboat charter. Two of their friends joined them at the boat to celebrate with the happy couple. Even though there were scattered showers in the beginning of the day, during the sail the weather turned out to be quite wonderful.

We sailed out past the Golden Gate Bridge but did not go too far, because there was a strong ebb current and we did not want to get carried out into the Pacific! Under the bridge, we did the famous howl and heard the echo. Echoes under the Golden Gate bridge are pretty special, but they require volume and timing to get the echo. It’s a great stress reliever during these uncertain times and as a crewmember, it was fun to be a part of it all.

Sailing over to Alcatraz we included a short Alcatraz Island tour- there are so many cool stories related to the island. We go very close to the island, you can see all the buildings, plants, and rocky shores from our yacht. We provided some maritime history, Alcatraz prison history, and even civil war history.

On our way back to Sausalito, we were really enjoying the scenery of the Golden Gate Bridge - the clouds over the hills and the pelicans diving into the ocean for an early dinner. Sausalito sailing is really special and incredibly relaxing. There is so much to see along the Sausalito waterfront.

--Crewmember Nancy

Perfect Autumn Weather

Fri, 27 Sep 2019 00:14:33 GMT

Wow – we have been having great fall weather. Moderate breezes, clear skies, less fog. We are seeing lots of wildlife out in San Francisco Bay, including harbor porpoises, sea lions, harbor seals and big flocks of pelicans flying in formation.

A couple weeks ago we went out with Andria, pictured sailing past the bridge. She is a local dinghy sailor and sailed Bay Wolf out under the Golden Gate Bridge herself! Her face is pure joy. We are so proud to be able to offer customized trips for anyone excited to get out on the water.

– Capt Kirk

VIDEO - Family Sailing on Osprey, 50 foot Gulf Star Sailing Yacht

Sun, 26 Feb 2017 22:57:47 GMT

It's a perfect day. We spent a wonderful time sailing over the San Francisco Bay. The Captain (Mark) was great. He is really good with kids.

VIDEO - Introduction to Captain Kirks San Francisco Sailing

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 00:02:34 GMT

Sailing on San Francisco Bay. Book a trip today!

Grandma Goes Sailing

Wed, 30 May 2012 00:03:31 GMT

Captain Doug got to sail with “Granny” who is 90 years old and a sailor. She brought along her family, including her son Malcolm and her 20 month-old great granddaughter. They had a wonderful time on Bay Wolf, and Malcolm wrote us a letter:

Captain Kirk,

What a delight Doug, Dogen, and Jenny were. I couldn't have asked for a more attentive, lively and engaging crew. You've got really great people on your staff.

Thanks again for making this work out. Mom was just grinning and having a great time. Her response and your crew made it a day that we all will remember with great fondness and cherish in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

My deepest appreciation,

Malcolm

Captain Doug Workmaster saves the life of a kayaker.

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 21:42:44 GMT

While Saturday's weather conditions were as close to perfection as one could have hoped — as evidenced by day-long traffic jams as city-dwellers tried to make their escape to the beach — Sunday was a little brisker, with more typical summer-like winds. Those 25-knot+ winds are why Capt. Doug Workmaster, skipper for Captain Kirk's San Francisco Sailing' Sausalito-based Santa Cruz 50 Bay Wolf, was in the right place at the right time to save a young man's life.

Workmaster, out on a four-hour charter on Sunday, had already made quick work of a run up the eastern side of the Tiburon peninsula to Red Rock, and back into the lee of Angel Island when he realized that there were still two more hours to go in the charter. "I decided to make the same run for a couple of reasons," he explains. "First, Central Bay was pretty foggy and cold, and also because I wanted to check our new sail plan."

As Workmaster and first mate Brian Coggan got Bay Wolf moving past Bluff Point at the eastern entrance to Raccoon Strait, they saw a partially swamped yellow kayak with no one aboard. Initially suspecting that the kayak had simply been blown off a beach, Workmaster realized someone was most likely in the water when he spotted a paddle floating about 20 feet away from the boat.

"The water was just starting to ebb, and there was about a two-foot wind chop," recalls Workmaster. "As we passed the kayak, we heard a very weak call for help." After spotting a young man in the water, he set to work getting the boat in a position to pull the man aboard. Once to windward, Coggan snagged the man with a boat hook, and with the help of Workmaster, pulled him aboard.

"Adam was dressed in only boardshorts, a lightweight PFD and glasses," Workmaster says. "He told us through chattering teeth that he and his friend Alex had paddled from Paradise to Angel Island, and were returning when they got separated. He capsized and decided to start swimming for shore."

Workmaster estimates that Adam, 23, was about 400 yards from shore when Bay Wolf picked him up. "He left his kayak and paddle to swim for shore, but I don't think he would have made it. He told us he thought he was in the water for about 30 minutes, but Dr. Art, the man who'd chartered Bay Wolf, and I think it probably wasn't any more than 10-15 minutes. Considering his level of hypothermia, he probably only had another 5-10 minutes left."

Adam was taken below, redressed in warm clothes and wrapped in blankets while Workmaster and Coggan communicated with the Coast Guard about their suspicions that Adam's friend might also be in the water. Bay Wolf, the San Rafael fireboat, and the Sausalito-based Catalina Tahiti all commenced searching for the friend, which was thankfully unnecessary. "For the next 20 minutes, we had an increasingly tense time as we searched in vain," recalls Workmaster. "Then the best phone call came in — Alex and his kayak were safely ashore. Sweet!"

In the meantime, Adam had improved significantly, and Dr. Art believed he could easily make the trip back to Sausalito, rather than try to dock Bay Wolf, which draws eight feet, at Sam's on a falling tide. "Once we got back to Sausalito, we put him into the care of his parents," Workmaster says. "I'm thankful for the support and teamwork of Brian, and that we happened to have a medical doctor onboard."

We bet Adam and his folks are even more thankful. Great job, Bay Wolf crew!

- latitude / ladonna

VIDEO - Summertime Sailing on Bay Wolf

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 22:59:14 GMT

A client made video from Summer 2011. This was a chartered trip on the Santa Cruz 50, Bay Wolf. The video is all shot on the Bay in San Francisco. Please contact us if you are interested in sailing with us today!

Fundraising Charter

Sun, 11 Mar 2012 01:01:54 GMT

Hi Captain Kirk!

Indeed, we had a wonderful afternoon with James, Dogen and Brian. Even though it was a bit overcast, the ride was perfect. I loved seeing underneath the GG Bridge and taking the city in from the bay. The crew was fantastic- they involved us and explained sailing terms to us in just the right dose, were extremely patient and kind when we were in their way, they kept the perfect amount of food and drinks flowing and were just generally extremely friendly and knowledgeable.

We really appreciate your generosity in hosting us and making your donation to LLS. It is very kind of you to contribute to our cause. You were very easy to work with and we were so happy with the trip.

Thanks again,

Caroline

VIDEO - Sailing San Francisco on a Santa Cruz 50 as seen on Eye on the Bay

aga@jigsawinc.com — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 21:53:13 GMT

San Francisco Sailing Charters on a Santa Cruz 50 as shown on the news program "Eye on the Bay". A typical trip of sailing San Francisco bay including going under the Golden Gate Bridge. Best value for boat rental in SF sailing. contact www.sfbaysail.com to charter "Bay Wolf" a Santa Cruz 50 for your group.

VIDEO - San Francisco Sailing Lessons

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 23:49:40 GMT

Video taken by Roy Foliente - one of our many repeat customers

Springtime Sailing

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 01:00:25 GMT

Clear skies and good food- what a perfect day for sailing lessons! Kevin and Ann originally from Austin Texas, and their friends Flo and Kiwi from Los Angeles really had fun. We went out on Bay Wolf in 10-12 knots of breeze and had the San Francisco Bay all to ourselves. We saw dolphins, harbor seals, pelicans and a huge flock of cormorants.

These hardworking sailors enjoyed a delicious picnic on board - wine, apples and strawberries, ham and turkey sandwiches, fresh bread, chips, pickles and chocolates for dessert.

Everyone had come to San Francisco for a fun getaway from work and we sure had a beautiful trip out under the Golden Gate. It was the perfect way to connect as friends while learning something new and enjoying our San Francisco Bay.

Donations to Non-profits

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 21:53:13 GMT

We donate 10% of all of our revenues (not just a portion of profits) to several local non-profits. While this may be a bad business idea (particularly in a down economy) it sure makes us feel good to be helping our community.

Why do we donate so much to non-profits?

Why not. It makes us feel good about the sailing charters and allows us to support our community.

Can the passengers select where the donations go?

Sure, let us know which non-profit you would like to support. We have supported bike-a-thons and marathons in 2010.

2010 donations

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Intl. (Sponsoring one of our sailing clients in a summer 2010 bike-a-thon)
Trips for Kids (providing bikes and bike riding for at-risk youth)
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area
Operation Smile
Room to Read (A sailing client is running a marathon in Antarctica to raise $26,200 towards building a school in South Africa)
Abilities United
Girl Scouts of Northern CA
Spaulding Center
March of Dimes
Environmental Volunteers
Mono Lake Foundation
Mother Milk Bank of San Jose
Fairmeadow Elementary School
Santa Clara County Peace Officers Association
Stockton College Foundation
NAWA Academy (school for hearing impaired in Northern California)
.. Come sailing with us and add your favorite non-profit .....

2006-2009 donations have included:

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area
California Aids Ride
Second Harvest Food Bank
United Way
Several elementary schools, middle schools and high schools
Covenant Children's Center
Unicef
Mothers Milk Bank of San Jose
Marine Mammal Center
Farallone Marine Sanctuary Association
Mono Lake Foundation
Spaulding Center
Sailing Education Adventures

VIDEO - NBC Today- Captain Kirk featured on the NBC Today Show

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 21:53:13 GMT

"The Best of the California Coast" Captain Kirk's San Francisco Sailing was selected by the Today Show as one of California's best treasures. Sailing the Santa Cruz 50 "Bay Wolf" under the Golden Gate Bridge and along the San Francisco waterfront and past Alcatraz Island. True hands-on adventure with a skilled captain, lessons included for all passengers. Captain Kirk recently sailed 5,000 miles to Mexico and back. Bay Wolf has sailed in many races to Mexico and Hawaii TransPac and Pacific Cup.

Sailing with Grandpa Jake

Tue, 05 May 2009 23:58:49 GMT

Grandpa Jake is 86 years old and has sailed on San Francisco Bay since he was a kid. It was his first sail in 15 years! Grandpa Jake was thrilled to be back on the water - he took the helm as soon as we left Sausalito. He sailed us out past the Golden Gate Bridge where we found dolphins chasing our wake when we passed by the south tower.

The winds picked up to 20 knots and we reefed the main. When we reached Pac Bell Park, I offered to take the helm, but Grandpa Jake said, “I’m driving. You can drive tomorrow.”

We sailed a complete loop around Alcatraz island. Grandpa Jake remembers when it was still an active prison, and he regaled us with stories of sailing past Angel Island in the 1940’s and 50’s. It was wonderful trip back in time and I learned so much about the history of San Francisco boating.

Only when we finally returned to the dock would Grandpa Jake give up the tiller and let me dock the boat.

-Captain Kirk

Lucy's Letter

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 23:57:16 GMT

Dear Captain Kirk,

We had a great sail on Bay Wolf . We sailed out past the Golden Gate Bridge and the conditions were perfect. We spent almost the entire trip outside the Golden Gate Bridge. Everyone got a chance to drive and we got to see some dolphins!

Thank you for a wonderful charter. We had so much fun. The boat was wonderful. The weather was perfect and you and Sean were perfect hosts. San Francisco never looked so beautiful. We will be back.

Lucy

Girls Sail the Bay Too!

Sat, 21 Jun 2008 23:49:30 GMT

Megan, age 10, got to drive the Bay Wolf all the way from Sausalito to Pier 39. Bay Wolf is our new 50 foot Santa Cruz sailboat, a perfectly balanced yacht. She is very fast and total blast to sail. This was Megan's first time driving and she did great. We saw wind speeds of 28 knots and boat speeds of 8 knots with just the main sail - that’s some real sailing for ya!

Megan sailed from Sausalito to San Francisco passing Alcatraz Island, all the way around Treasure Island, and across the slot to the backside of Angel island and up Raccoon Straight to Sausalito. We cover lots of ground with BayWolf!

VIDEO - Captain Kirk's Promotional Video

Fri, 16 May 2008 22:54:03 GMT

Captain Kirks San Francisco Sailing

Wintertime Sailing

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 00:47:48 GMT

Passenger Liz received a gift certificate for Christmas for a 3 hour cruise with us at Captain Kirk’s San Francisco sailing. So Liz and her five friends enjoyed an afternoon winter cruise, with clear sunny skies and moderate winds. Bay Area winters are often the best time to sail, as the weather conditions are far more mild than peak summer season wind. It wouldn’t be a cruise without snacks either - there were turkey and ham sandwiches, beer and wine and lots of chocolate, of course.

-Captain Kirk

Father's Day Cruise on the SF Bay!

Sat, 04 Aug 2007 23:45:59 GMT

"We spent all afternoon on the water, it was amazing to see the Bay Area from the water. It was a new experience for us, and nice to spend time with my Dad in the great outdoors. After we docked in Sausalito we bid Captain Kirk farewell and rushed off to Father’s Day dinner in San Francisco. All we could talk about at dinner was our fabulous day of sailing on the bay. We are all anxious to do it again. Thanks Captain Kirk for an exhilarating Day!

- Rex.”

50th Wedding Anniversary

Mon, 25 Jun 2007 23:42:37 GMT

Jim and Annette wanted to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. A private evening sail seemed just right. Annette and her daughter already sailed with us on Flying Tiger before so we talked about how to make this anniversary cruise special. She wanted excellent food and a romantic San Francisco Bay sail. Our crew served salads with grilled chicken, wine and cheese as we sailed past Belvedere Island, Tiburon and Angel Island. The sun was setting as we returned to dock, the sky a brilliant pink and blue with the twinkling skyline. We said good night - just until next year's trip.

-Captain Kirk

Just Married!

Thu, 21 Jun 2007 23:44:11 GMT

Karim and Bonnie got married in San Francisco and immediately after the wedding they came sailing on Flying Tiger. Family and friends joined the newlyweds in the celebratory sail as we took a cruise towards the Golden Gate Bridge, around Alcatraz island and along the front of Angel Island.

What a way to start their life together, marriage and sailing all at once! The newlyweds wanted to learn something new together, to symbolize their commitment in this next phase of life. We created a custom sail plan for them as a way to kick off their honeymoon. I wish them smooth sailing in their new life together.

-Captain Kirk

Sailing with the Brefka Family

Thu, 12 Apr 2007 23:38:32 GMT

“An amazing day of sailing. My family and I came out to the bay for Spring Break from Wisconsin. San Francisco was perfect for sailing as we went out towards the Golden Gate Bridge. We crowded around the front of the boat and actually howled under the bridge—the echoes were thrilling. The waves in the ocean were actually pretty big, so we stayed inside the bay. The whole family got a chance to steer Flying Tiger. We ate delicious food (turkey and ham sandwiches, potato chips, chocolate, carrots, sodas and wine for the adults). They never run out of good food on Tiger. We even raced a few boats and got the boat heeled over sailing by Alcatraz. The Brefka crew loved it.

Nancy aka Ali (9): "This is paradise."

Benjamin (17): "A grand adventure."

Jacob (12): "Boat fly high, boat fly free - Either way it is great for me."

Rick (dad): "You ain't seen nothin' till you've seen the underside of the Golden Gate Bridge."

Susan (mom): "So much nicer than I ever thought possible. Our whole family had a great time."

Thank you so much!”

Rick Brefka

Sailing Lessons: Just Outside the Golden Gate Bridge

Sat, 03 Mar 2007 00:36:23 GMT

“We had a great day of sailing lessons. We just recently completed our Basic Keelboat (BKB) class in Mexico and wanted to come out and experience San Francisco sailing. Ursula had the helm from the moment we left the dock and all the way out under the bridge. We sailed out past the Golden Gate Bridge to experience some waves created by a strong ebb current and opposing westerly winds. The Captain calls these waves the "Big, Green Square Ones", and it was a great ride. Flying Tiger cut through the waves at 6+ knots with a single reefed main. Ursula sailed out through the big waves and back to the bridge. I took my turn and we did the same loop. We’re fast learners and the Captain and crew really had a lot of experience to share. I think we learned a lot. Sailing San Francisco Bay is a great thrill.”

Richard

Valentine's Day Sail

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 00:34:58 GMT

Catie and Zack enjoyed a wonderful Valentine’s Day San Francisco Bay sailing cruise. The weather was good, and we sailed out past the Golden Gate Bridge. Catie's father and brothers work on the Golden Gate Bridge seismic retrofit and as we sailed out, her father came out to wave hello from the bridge!

San Francisco sailing is best with good food and drink and we ate lots of good food as we sailed past Angel Island back to Sausalito. Catie wrote the following in the the Flying Tiger log book:

"The weather gods were on our side today for our Valentine's Day sail. We even saw family working on the bridge! Thanks so much for the great sail."

-Captain Kirk

Dodging the Rain Clouds

Tue, 13 Feb 2007 00:33:48 GMT

Ed and Cams came out for a San Francisco sunset cruise—all the way from London, UK. As we sailed between Angel Island and the Golden Gate Bridge, we got rained on for part of the trip. Just as were about to give up, the rain stopped and we got a wonderful double rainbow over the Bay. Cams took lots of pictures. Then we got to see the sun set out beyond the Golden Gate Bridge. One of the perfect San Francisco sunsets. We drank hot tea as we sailed back to Sausalito. Cams wrote the following:

"The rain was cold, but the beautiful rainbow over San Francisco and the sunset behind the Golden Gate Bridge was spectacular. I always like original shots in great places and I certainly got that here."

-Captain Kirk

Visiting Sailors from London

Wed, 07 Feb 2007 00:31:35 GMT

We enjoyed a great day of San Francisco sailing. Both of us are intermediate sailors working on getting their UK certification. Once we left the slip Captain Kirk handed us the helm and we got to sail most of the time during our trip. We sailed out under the Golden Gate Bridge. Two boats were well ahead of us. By paying attention to wind shifts, sail trim and currents, we were able to beat both boats to the Golden Gate Bridge. One boat we beat by a few yards, and the other boat was left almost a mile behind. Outside the gate the sailing was perfect with no waves, a moderate 10 knot breeze and even a dolphin sighting. Sailing back inside along the San Francisco waterfront, we sailed inside Aquatic Park and did a perfect gybe past the boats of the Maritime Museum, including the tall ship Balclutha, the ferry boat Eureka and the tugboat Hercules. We then sailed past Alcatraz, Angel Island and then back to Sausalito. We got lots of sailing practice and are now ready for our sailing course back in the UK. What an excellent trip out, perfect weather, sun, wind, great sailing. Excellent view of the San Francisco skyline and the underside of the Golden Gate Bridge - Wow.

With our sincerest thanks,

Neil & Rob

Queen Mary 2 Visits San Francisco

Mon, 05 Feb 2007 00:29:45 GMT

We sailed out to see the Queen Mary 2 arrive under the Golden Gate Bridge, her maiden voyage to San Francisco. The scene was amazing - lots of boats, helicopters, even San Francisco fireboats spraying water. The Queen Mary 2 was both beautiful and enormous, she deserved all the fanfare.

With less than 20 feet to spare between the top of the ship and the Golden Gate Bridge, seeing the QM2 enter San Francisco Bay was truly one of the best experiences ever. We were able to sail under the Golden Gate Bridge at the same time as this wonderful ship.

Amy and Mark from Montara and Paula and her 9 yr old son Eli from Sacramento were passengers for this once-in-a-lifetime event.

-Captain Kirk

30th Birthday Sail

Sun, 28 Jan 2007 00:28:03 GMT

A surprise birthday sail for Al's 30th birthday. Four teachers from San Leandro (Megan & Al, Amber and Ben) took a five hour San Francisco charter. Al was kept in the dark until they got to the dock - surprise!

This was Al's first time sailing and he was a fast learner. We sailed out under the Golden Gate Bridge and then back along the San Francisco waterfront. We sailed along with the 200+ boats participating in the 3-Bridge Fiasco sailboat race. It looked like it might rain, but we had clear skies and light to moderate winds. We hit speeds of 6.7 knots coming back from Alcatraz Island to Sausalito. Lots of cormorants seen flying in formation, and lots of seals and even a big sea lion jumping near the boat. Ben wrote the following poem for the Flying Tiger log book:

"On a foggy, cool day in Sausalito, Four young adventurers sailed with Captain Kirk-ito. The oldest boy Al was turning thirty, we floated on the Bay and the sights were pretty."

-Captain Kirk

Romantic Anniversary Sail

Sun, 21 Jan 2007 00:26:46 GMT

Paul arranged a romantic Sausalito sailing weekend as an anniversary surprise for his wife, Karen. The weekend included dinner at Angelino's Italian restaurant on Friday night, sailing on Saturday and dinner on Saturday night. A room at the lovely Hotel Sausalito was the perfect touch. We sailed along the Sausalito waterfront and out under the Golden Gate Bridge. We watched the racing sailboats hoist spinnakers near the San Francisco shoreline and then slowly sailed back to Sausalito. Lots of pelicans flying in formation and harbor seals sleeping near the marina. The food included peppered turkey and cheeses, sourdough bread, sliced fruits, a nice bottle of Cabernet and French truffles for dessert. At the end of the trip Karen wrote the following in the Ship's log "12th year anniversary completely planned by Paul - surprising. Fabulous. 10 points !!"

-Captain Kirk

Sailing Lesson prior to Olympic Qualifying Event

Sun, 14 Jan 2007 00:25:18 GMT

Suzanne was training with us the week prior to competing in the US Sailing Rolex Miami OCR (Olympic Class Regatta) event in Florida on January 21 to 27, 2007. We sailed out towards Yellow Bluff and worked on light air sail trim, crew positioning, gybing and tacking procedures, currents, wind shifts, tactics and communication among crew members. The Rolex Miami OCR event includes 550 of the world's top Olympic and Paralympic class sailors representing 43 countries. Suzanne will be sailing to qualify for the 3-person Sonar class for the 2008 Paralympics in Bejing - Good luck to Suzanne! Results (February 28): Suzanne team finished 10th in the highly competitive Sonar class. While not on the winner's podium, Suzanne's team did very well including beating the eventual gold medal winner in four of the 13 races. The competition included the top sailors from the USA, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland and Greece. Way to go Suzanne!

-Captain Kirk

New Yorkers Sail in San Francisco

Wed, 10 Jan 2007 00:23:03 GMT

What a wonderful 3 hour trip. Dan and Rob were in town from New York City for business and called me to go sailing for the day. We had the perfect winter day - 60 degrees, clear skies and 10 knots of breeze. We sailed out under the Golden Gate Bridge, out to near Point Bonita Lighthouse. We saw two pods of dolphins halfway out to the lighthouse. We sailed back into the bay and watched the sun set perfectly under the middle of the Golden Gate Bridge. During the trip, they both got cell phone calls from colleagues and they got to tell them about the wonderful San Francisco sailing. Lots of pictures were taken, and we ate some good food.

-Captain Kirk

Sailing with my Little Brother Carlos

Sun, 07 Jan 2007 00:08:33 GMT

I took Carlos, my little brother from the Big Brother program out sailing for the first time on Flying Tiger . Sachi, Miya (9) and Romi (6) came along as well. A nice day with light winds. Carlos took the helm as soon as we left Sausalito and he sailed us out under the Golden Gate Bridge. We all got to yell underneath the bridge and hear our echoes—people on top of the bridge waved to us! We sailed past Pier 39, Angel Island and we got a close-up Alcatraz tour as we circled the island. Carlos had a great time and was a fast learner, with a good sense for making small adjustments to keep the boat well trimmed. A great first exposure to sailing San Francisco Bay.

-Captain Kirk

Celebrating the End of the Year

Fri, 29 Dec 2006 00:06:10 GMT

It was the last sail of 2006. Travis, Ryan and Katie, all UC Davis students came out to celebrate over their Christmas break - and we were very lucky with the weather! The previous day had been very nasty with big waves and wind, but today we had light winds and there were lots of seals and sea lions in the water. We saw a few dolphins out past the Golden Gate Bridge.

After the trip Travis wrote a note in the log book:

“Thank you for the incredible adventure!. It was an unforgettable day and we could not have asked for a better captain. Thanks for sharing your knowledge of San Francisco Bay and the sailing lessons. Good luck with the sailing charters.”

-Captain Kirk

Swimathon Fundraising sail for C.A.R.

Sun, 05 Nov 2006 23:01:11 GMT

The Community Association for Rehabilitation Sailing (C.A.R.) is a swimathon fundraising challenge. Kieran Alumbrac from San Jose, her sister, mother-in-law and her best friend participated in the event and came out for a celebratory sunset cruise with us after.

We had a great sail with good winds and clear skies, even though it was low tide. We had to wait until after dark for low tide to allow us to pass back into Sausalito. The sunset cruise included the full moon and the beautiful San Francisco skyline all lit up as well. Kieran's commented in the log book:

"Beautiful sail around Angel Island. Perfect weather and full moon! We had a wonderful experience. Many thanks to Captain Kirk for his years of support for C.A.R. As an avid swimmer and sailor at heart, I loved every second at sea."

-Captain Kirk