A birthday, a corporate offsite, an anniversary, a proposal, a small wedding party: a private boat on San Francisco Bay turns almost any occasion into one people remember. Booking one is simple once you know the handful of decisions that shape the day. Here they are, in the order worth making them.
1. Start with the headcount
The number of guests decides the boat before anything else does. Every boat in our fleet is ours, and each one comes with a licensed captain.
| Guests | Boat | What it is like |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 4 | Andrews 21 | A small, lively keelboat. Everyone gets to sail. |
| Up to 5 | J/80 | A quick sport boat for a group that wants some pace. |
| Up to 6 | Beneteau 37, Catalina 30, J/109 or J/105 | From a comfortable cruiser with room to relax to a fast racing boat. |
| Up to 20 | Yukon Jack, a Santa Cruz 50 | Our flagship. Room to move around, and still a proper sailing yacht. |
| More than 20 | Several boats sailing together | Up to 44 guests across the fleet, which is how our team building days work. |
2. Decide what kind of day it is
Some groups want to sail. Others want a beautiful setting for a conversation and a meal. Both are right, but they suit different times. The afternoon westerly makes the Bay lively after midday, while mornings are usually calm; how wind and weather work on the Bay explains the difference. A sunset sail is the easy choice for couples and celebrations, and the city's big nights, from Fleet Week to the Fourth of July fireworks, are listed under special events.
3. Choose how long
Charters run from two to five hours, with the captain, the boat and the fuel included. As a guide to what fits:
- Two hours: the city front and the Bay Bridge.
- Three hours: around Alcatraz.
- Four hours: out under the Golden Gate.
- Five hours: across to Tiburon or Jack London Square, with time to tie up for lunch.
The hourly rate drops once a charter passes three hours, so a longer day often costs less than people expect. Every boat's figures are on the rates page.
4. Sort out food and drink
You can bring your own and our crew will serve it for you. Wine carries a corkage fee, and we ask for no red wine or hard liquor aboard. Or let us look after it: salads, wood-fired pizzas, sandwiches and breakfast spreads, with beer and wine served on board. The options are on the catering page.
5. Book earlier than you think
For an ordinary weekend, four to six weeks ahead is comfortable. For Fleet Week, the Fourth of July and New Year's Eve, book much earlier: those dates sell out every year, and the larger boats go first.
6. On the day
We sail from Pier 40 at South Beach Harbor, beside Oracle Park, and not Pier 39. Plan to arrive thirty minutes before departure, and bring more layers than seem sensible, because the Bay is colder and windier than the city. Directions and parking are worth a look before you set off. From there the captain takes care of the rest.
Ready to plan it?
Tell us the date, the headcount and the kind of day you have in mind, and we will suggest the right boat and timing. Request a quote and we will reply within one business day.