SF bay sailing/rental options (2025)

Gonna be visiting San Francisco in a couple of weeks. Would love to use this opportunity to cross off such an iconic location from my bucket list. I was looking at dinghy/catamaran rental places, but google wasn't very helpful. Found a few old reddit threads, but were super disappointed. I'd like to sail for a few hours max. Not interested in a sailing club membersip or any of the learn to sail courses - I own a foiling moth, racing keelboats, have sailed 49ers, multihulls, etc...

Beaches in Europe tend to have these no-nonsense places on the beach where I put down the deposit and go sailing on a Hobie cat..

What are my best options here?

I was looking at dinghy/catamaran rental places, but google wasn't very helpful. Beaches in Europe tend to have these no-nonsense places on the beach where I put down the deposit and go sailing on a Hobie cat..

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Don't know of one on the entire West Coast of the USA personally but haven't dug much. I bet your only option will be an actual keel boat charter.

barney said:

Gonna be visiting San Francisco in a couple of weeks. Would love to use this opportunity to cross off such an iconic location from my bucket list. I was looking at dinghy/catamaran rental places, but google wasn't very helpful. Found a few old reddit threads, but were super disappointed. I'd like to sail for a few hours max. Not interested in a sailing club membersip or any of the learn to sail courses - I own a foiling moth, racing keelboats, have sailed 49ers, multihulls, etc...

Beaches in Europe tend to have these no-nonsense places on the beach where I put down the deposit and go sailing on a Hobie cat..

What are my best options here?

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The challenge here on the left coast is the water is much cooler than you expect. Dangerously cool if you're not equipped for it. Lots of small companies that offer guided kayaking and such, but don't know of any dinghy-oriented rental agencies. There are a fair number of keel-boat companies.

Cross two things off your bucket list at the same time: https://www.sfbaysail.com/baywolf.htm

Or, depending on timing, walk the docks at St.Francis and see if you can get on a boat for the Big Boat Series...

sledracr said:

Or, depending on timing, walk the docks at St.Francis and see if you can get on a boat for the Big Boat Series...

Rolex Big Boat Series

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Maybe double-check the lifelines if you’re hopping on a random J105 in the big boat

An other option I found meanwhile is the USA76 AC experience? Obviously this must be geared towards tourist, but this could be fun if they don't spend most of the time motoring around in light winds like the usual tourist cruises.

Short trip is jib only, that does not get me too excited, but the 10:30-1:30PM could be fun in the building breeze. Found positive reviews here in the forums from 10+ years ago. Anyone done this recently?

barney said:

An other option I found meanwhile is the USA76 AC experience? Obviously this must be geared towards tourist, but this could be fun if they don't spend most of the time motoring around in light winds like the usual tourist cruises.

Sail San Francisco Bay | Corporate Events | ACsailingSF

Book an America’s Cup Sailing Experience on San Francisco Bay. Ideas for corporate team building events and private yacht charters. Call today (619) 630-6383

www.acsailingsf.com

Short trip is jib only, that does not get me too excited, but the 10:30-1:30PM could be fun in the building breeze. Found positive reviews here in the forums from 10+ years ago. Anyone done this recently?

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Not recently. 12 years ago, it was a cool experience. As you might expect it's relaxed and full of tourist types. They will (did) allow you to do some of the work. They also offer the tourists a chance to helm. As you might expect most don't do well and things slow a bit. While wallowing under the steering of one tourist, the boat suddenly locked in and accelerated sharply. I looked back and my brother had been given the helm and he got her singing. I would do it again as it was cool (to me) when they had it trimmed well and you felt that boat really move. They used to have races which may be better than the standard tourist ride.

barney said:

An other option I found meanwhile is the USA76 AC experience? Obviously this must be geared towards tourist, but this could be fun if they don't spend most of the time motoring around in light winds like the usual tourist cruises.

Sail San Francisco Bay | Corporate Events | ACsailingSF

Book an America’s Cup Sailing Experience on San Francisco Bay. Ideas for corporate team building events and private yacht charters. Call today (619) 630-6383

www.acsailingsf.com

Short trip is jib only, that does not get me too excited, but the 10:30-1:30PM could be fun in the building breeze. Found positive reviews here in the forums from 10+ years ago. Anyone done this recently?

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I did it two years ago.
Was pretty fun, went with wife and kids, they let us each drive, they even let me tack the boat .

It was a nice way to get out on the bay, and poke around on a big carbon beast.

You could do that, and then get a wing-foil class to get both ends of the bay experience.

I haven't sailed on USA76, but back in January 2020 they participated in the Seaweed Soup midwinters regatta.

Go get a ride racing a Vanguard 15 or rent one?

It's a super laid back croud/fleet. Lots of ex college racers that don't want to deal with big boat programs. Treasure Island also puts you very close to the city (TI is connected to the city and east by by the bay bridge) and it's sheltered from the slot.

If you want big wind, just sail 500 yards north into the slot.