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Santa Cruz, CA

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Chardonnay Sailing Charters

4.5 (218 reviews)
Open • 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

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Out on the Bay
John H.

This crew is the best in the business! Fabulous day out on the Monterey Bay. This is probably been our sixth sail with them and love coming back for more.Captain Cate, Sam and Anissa did a great job! Thanks again and see you soon!

Ktb B.

Always love sailing on the Chardonnay. Over 30 years and maybe 75 times! We went on a Friday afternoon. ( July 17) Things have changed with this company and we were disappointed. The prices are the same, but they stopped providing pizza or other food. Now if you want food you have to buy one of their charcuterie boxes. The drinks are now limited to two small servings. And they no longer allow you to bring any outside food or drink. The crew was not as friendly. The captain only took us around the wharf and it was a bit boring for two hours. (In the past, they have sailed south to Capitola or north around Abbott Lighthouse area. ) They have also eliminated Tues and Thurs "locals night" where it was $20 cheaper and you can bring your own refreshments.

Kids loved the wildlife!
Laura T.

We took this cruise in memory of my aunt. From the very beginning the crew was kind and professional. My husband is prone to seasickness and sure enough he got sick. The crew was so quick and efficient. Not only did they catch on to his discomfort, but they were prepared to deal with it before it got terrible and in the most kind and professional way. All this was epic, but the crew also worked hard to make to sail the most beautiful ceremony for my aunt. The entire family was happy and grateful for the perfect memory. Thank you crew for everything. (And animal watching for the little ones, too!).

I had the BEST time with Chardonnay Sailing Charters on their Sunset Sail! I've been on a few cruises in the Santa Cruz area, but this is by far my favorite. The music, wine, pizza, and amazing crew made the experience so fun and memorable. The wildlife viewing was also incredible! We got to see otters, a whale breach, and even seals swimming with whales! The staff is also exceptionally gracious. At one point, I lost my footing and catapulted right toward a crew member, and she was so sweet and completely understanding about it. I'll definitely be back, and will be recommending this cruise to everyone I know!

Joe S.

We have taken a bday cruise on this charter every July, for as long as I remember and it's ALWAYS a great time. Terrific boat, wonderful crew, and never a disappointment

Sunset
El G.

i am a seaaa kittyy i feel the breeze on ma faceeeee! i wish i wore some sun creammm! i wanna do this everyday. don't forget ur binoculars. but if u do, the crew miiight lend you theirs if u r cool (*u*) they give u wine or beer while you traverse around the monterey bay. and u feel like a million dollars. very special time for me.

Kids life jackets are provided and would definitely recommend this charter for families!
Sarah L.

Vibes: 5/5 Food: 5/5 Value: 5/5 Bring kids? : Yes, with notes below I am definitely going to return to Chardonnay sailing charters with additional guests that come to visit from out of town! My family and I booked the 3:30 Pizza tour on Sunday. We had wonderful sunny weather and a lot of wind! You check in at a small dock office and they give you a card to hold onto until you board the ship. You should arrive early enough to check in, park, and, if needed, use the bathrooms (right around the corner from the office). Instructions are provided on land and on the boat. I would definitely pack a streamlined backpack because you don't want to be holding onto anything while you're on the boat. It's rocking back-and-forth. There's a lot of wind and you'll need both hands to hold the pizza and drinks! Highly recommend putting on sunblock before you get on and securing hats with strings. if you're nervous on boats try to board early so you get a seat towards the back. We had a little kids with us (2 & 8) and I was glad we had bench seating as opposed to being closer to the bow with less secure seating areas. They do provide kids lifejackets as well! The captain even let the kids take turns driving the boat, which was a highlight for my kids! If it was just me and my husband and we didn't have to keep two kiddos from falling over, I would have been on the bow with a rain jacket because you can expect to get wet if there is wind and waves! Just keep in mind for those with elderly, folks with mobility issues, or kids you'll want to board first to get access to the bench seats. The crew was extremely hospitable and polite. They come around at every opportunity to refill your cup with drink of choice (local wine, local beer, and bubble water and sodas) and give you delicious local pizza from Upper Crust. I very much appreciated the ability to order a personalized gluten-free pizza (included in the regular price). There are also options for vegan pizza. I was expecting the options to be just plain old cheese pizza, but to my surprise, one by one, the varieties of pizza kept coming out! Pepperoni, sausage, pesto, mushroom and on - so many different varieties of pizzas! You are given a paper plate and cup (to hold onto for dear life). If you lose the plate, it may end up in the ocean so hold on tight! You basically get fed, unlimited pizza and drink as you sail around the Santa Cruz area - truly a wonderful way to spend an afternoon. Make sure you secure everything try to be as hands-free as possible, bring layers, including a wind , and bring cash to tip the amazing crew at the end of the journey!

Beautiful sail last night, good Sones wine/pizza . The crew is great and very attentive and made sure we had a wonderful time . Wind perfect for the sail. Spectacular views and sunset. We had so much fun . Saw thousands of shearwater birds and whales . Would highly recommend!

pizza cruise
Shania ..

First time attending the pizza Cruise!! Definitely enjoyed every minute of it even though I'm in my third trimester of being pregnant it was still an awesome experience. My family got to enjoy complimentary pizza, wine, beer on tap, and sodas. The music they played made the vibe go up 1000% The staff were super nice, attentive, and reassuring. Definitely worth the money, Definitely telling everyone I know, & definitely coming back!

Helm
Emile T.

Fun experience, and great service from the staff. Treated to a private package with sandwiches, wine and beer. We started at Santa Cruz harbor, then towards the wharf and beyond. This experience had great views and was a lot of fun. Highly recommend this to anyone in a group.

Anna H.

Check in process was quick but I'm really surprised that it didn't require us to sign any waivers. We went for a company event and there were 25 of us and we were mixed in with a group of maybe 15 or so. There weren't any space on the boat so we scattered and some had to sit in the front area right below the sail. Let me tell you, it was a wild ride. During the turning points, depending on which side you sat on.. the boat would tip so much that we all felt that we were going to fall in and held on to dear life. We were served wine, beer and pizza. Which made it hard as we had to hold onto a paper plate and cup so we didn't know where to place it as we tried to not fall in. Anyway, the highlight of it was when a man next to us actually flew from one side of the boat to the other side during all of this commotion, and ended up smashing in to a lady and made her hit the railing. We thought she fell over but luckily she didn't. It was a wild ride.

Celebrating an anniversary
Peggy C.

We looked ahead at the weather and knew it would be a great day for a sail. We invited another couple and all had a terrific time. On the 5:30 sunset sail the pizza, wine and beer just kept on flowing. We enjoyed white and red wine and five different kinds of pizza. (Someone even requested gluten free and they had some of that!) The crew brought everything to us and I really loved the Salmon Creek Chardonnay they were pouring. So glad the wind came up adding excitement about halfway through the sail. Time went fast and everyone on the boat looked to be enjoying themselves. Right after leaving we thought we left a bag on board. Bo and the others helped us look for it. We were thinking maybe it flew away, then I got a call from our friend and said she accidentally picked it up and was still in the parking lot. Thanks Bo for helping us search anyway. We will return.

Views just before docking
Lauren Z.

I went on the sunset pizza, beer and wine sail today and it was fabulous. The vibe was really chill. The wine was really tasty. They offered about 4 pours and went around 3 times with different type of delicious pizza. The sail was relaxing with a beautiful sunset. Highly recommend if you are in the Santa Cruz area. I was able to easily book online the day before. Check them out for a chill evening on the water!

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Reviews are largely positive. Many highlight the friendly and attentive crew, a memorable sailing experience, and positive food and beverage offerings.

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2 years ago

OMG!! What an amazing day. Weather was perfect. The crew was amazing and served pizza and wine all we wanted.

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Ask the Community - Chardonnay Sailing Charters

Did you see whales?

We did once, it was a couple years ago.

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Review Highlights - Chardonnay Sailing Charters

“All this was epic, but the crew also worked hard to make to sail the most beautiful ceremony for my aunt.”

Mentioned in 111 reviews

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Pacific Sail - ASA 101 sailing class returning after a fun and educational day on the water.

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(43 reviews)

Absolutely phenomenal ASA 101 experience with Pacific Sail!…read more I had the pleasure of learning from Dylan and Darrel, and I couldn't have asked for a better team. Both instructors took the time to thoroughly cover the material--balancing hands-on learning with classroom-style instruction (Darrel even led lessons right in the hull of the boat!). We practiced tacking, jibing, tied a variety of useful knots, and learned all the parts of the boat in a way that was both fun and deeply informative. Even during wild weather (30+ knot gusts that caused racers to retire their boats!) and a brief engine hiccup, the experience was safe, empowering, and invaluable. I learned not just the textbook approach to handling situations like a man overboard, but also real-world knowledge--like how to troubleshoot engine issues (thanks, Dylan!) and who to call in a marine emergency (thanks, Darrel!). Dylan's patience and steady encouragement made sailing feel approachable, even when conditions were intense. Darrel brought humor, depth, and thoughtfulness to every moment--together, they're a truly outstanding teaching duo. I also had the chance to meet Kate, another instructor, who was all smiles and incredibly helpful, waving while passing up on her tow boat and then cracking jokes to Darrel when she prepared for her Chardonnay crew to take off. On land, Natalie and Ethan from the front desk were warm and welcoming. Natalie and Ethan even walked me over to the boat with my coffee in hand to make sure I didn't get lost. I left this course genuinely feeling like I have a solid foundation in sailing--both in skill and confidence. I highly recommend Pacific Sail to anyone looking to start their sailing journey. This team is the real deal!

Just finished my asa 103 lessons. Dylan is a really great captain! He's very encouraging and…read morepatient for my tons of weird questions. There is nothing he doesn't know he even knows the best fresh restaurant in Santa Cruz! You should all try his lessons and start to love sailing in the blue ocean with beautiful creatures!

Lighthall Yacht Charters - captain and the two princess seats

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(40 reviews)

Krista and Joe at LifhtHall Yachts has our loyalty. We made the reservation on short notice to…read morescatter my britgers ashes at sea. They were good with communication, met us at the top of the dock promptly, welcomed us onboard, laid out the trip plan, kept the boat on a very level keel, calmly set the foresail on a comfortable tact, was social but unobtrusive as we shared memories, songs and released my brothers ashes and flowers into the beautiful bay. He then offered us a bag of rose petals to cast in and gently followed the trail of flowers so we could be with my brothers ashes longer. A real pro. When we returned to the dock, Joe provided us with a personalized memory card with my brothera name and the coordinates of where we released him. He did a great job of a very comfortable ride for all us in slightly uncomfortable conditions. We now have lovely memories of our shared send off. Thank You both very much. Suzanne and family

I texted Scott, Lighthall for Ash scattering of our mother. This is the second time I asked Scott…read moreand Krista to take us for the Ash scattering. I had to postpone our first attempt and rescheduled one week after. Scott or Krista sent us the detailed email message. It was very helpful. Mike was the skipper. He was very nice and polite. He did the Naval bell ringing. He brought some roses. First, I let go off the Urn while both of us scattered the roses we brought. He brought yellow roses. I took Red rose petals. After we scattered them, we were able to see and follow the Urn with the red rose petals and the bright yellow roses closer to the Urn. He navigated the boat very gently and able to see the Urn. The morning was quiet, sunny and calm. It was extremely calm during the entire time, he navigated around the Urn, getting closer to the floating Urn. It was calming me to see her floating surrounded by flowers. My mother was slowly but surely sinking. I watched her floating, while Mike took few photos and sent them to me. Mike also honored my mother with "Naval Bell Ringing". It was a very nice, beautiful, sunny and calm morning for my mom to be floating on the ocean water. Thank you, Mike, Scott and Krista for sailing my mother and me to the Sea and sharing the most precious moments in our lives. Lighthall Yacht Charters Licensed Cremated Remains Disposer# CRD627 (831) 429-1970

California Classic Sail - End of a great 2 Hour Sunset Sail.

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Thinking of something to do for my dad's 70th b-day & mom's b-day the same month. I came across…read moreCCSail on Google. We've done the Specialized Helicopters twice, did the O'Neill Catamaran Yacht with 20 other people on the boat. So why not try this smaller sailboat ride. 8/8/15 We took the 2 HOUR SHARED SUNSET SAIL Saturday night at 6:00 pm. Park in the Visitor Spaces and Pay at Parking Meter right outside of Dock F to the left. ((Give yourself time If you need to use the restroom under the overpass, there might be a line.)) Captain Forest came out from his boat the "Sarah" at Dock F to welcome us promptly at 6 pm. The three of us plus the captain and his 1st mate Amit, had the boat to ourselves. Four passengers max. We had our own private, intimate sailing yacht with no other people - parents Loved It!! I was happy just taking pictures (that's what I do.) Ocean Air, Quite & Peaceful, just the screams from The Boardwalk rides :) The Captain and Amit were friendly and sociable people. He taught and let my dad steer the boat for a long time. The ride was fun, a little breezy, not hot, not cold - smooth sailing. A 2-hour boat ride around Santa Cruz in the Monterey Bay for $53 (+ a tip, much deserved) per person is a really good deal. A Must Do in Santa Cruz + it gets ya away from the crowds. Had a great time aboard the sailing yacht "Sarah".

This was the best sailing experience EVER!…read more I usually only go yelp to leave bad reviews of crappy places but this was SO good I am yelping as I head to the car!! Capt Forrest is one of the coolest people ever and it was a total 5 star experience all the way through! Sorry Chardonnay, I'm only sailing on here from now on!!! Thank u Forrest we are all smiles!

Stagnaro Charter Boats - Sunrise On Stagnaro's

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(123 reviews)

Family takes an annual trip to the area and I find myself fishing here an am half day each time…read more Been in these boats about 8-10 times over the last decade. Always a reliable and fun trip. As an experienced angler, this is day off fishing for me. Shallow water rockfish maybe a lingcod. Always tangles and novice tourists but the crew is fast to aid and always comes thru. This boat is great for new folks, families, anyone in the area that wants an easy day of fishing. I hang out on the bow and find a slice of ocean and always pull up something. I try to come early in my trip and get fish for the family. Huge bonus points for the fish market in the parking lot. If you are bringing your own fishing gear, leave the braided line at home and pack light. You really only need shrimp flies and a sinker. Maybe a bag of gulp if you don't want frozen squid they may or may not have. For sure no braid line at all. Hard line policy of the boat. I understand and no longer fight them. I bring a light spinning rod and have a blast catching small rockfish on vacation. Love this operation and will be back annually in May. Parking lot patrol are total and absolute pricks. Pad your parking as I've gotten a ticket literally thirty seconds after my time was up, as I walked to the car. Love the boat. Love the crew. Huge fan of their trips.

Went on another great fishing trip on Oct. 9th, 2026. We caught our limits pretty quickly and the…read moretrip turned into an incredible whale watching experience. Two humpbacks were circling the boat so close that one of them bumped the boat at one point. We also spotted a lot of seals, dolphins, and sealions. As always, the crew went above and beyond servicing the guests. I don't know how they manage, but it felt like we constantly had a personal assistant at our disposal. Frequent callouts for the best depth resulted in fish allmost at every haul. Definitely coming back...

Chardonnay Sailing Charters - boating - Updated October 2026

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