WOW!! Absolutely THE BEST and exceeded our expectations. My family and I just returned from a 11 day vacation to the Pacific NW (me, my wife and our 3 teenage kids). Our Sunset Cruise on the Far Niente was everyone's highlight of the entire vacation. Derek and Judi are the ultimate host and hostess and we were pampered from the moment we met Derek at the dock. It's clear that they truly love to entertain and seem to have as much fun as their guests. Their attention to detail is amazing. The food and presentation were incredible. So much variety and all absolutely delicious. The experience on the boat was perfect--great views of Seattle, the ferries and then anchoring near Bainbridge Island. Our experience on the Far Niente Sailing Charter will be a memory that my family and I cherish. We LOVED it!! read more

My husband and I very recently did the twilight cruise with my parents, who were visiting for the weekend. The evening was relaxing and beautiful. None of us had ever been sailing before, and we all agreed that this was a great first experience. A sail in the Sound was added to our bucket list after moving to Seattle just a few months ago, and I'm sad about how quickly the evening went by! Derek and Judi are very warm and welcoming, and really do think of every detail for the evening. We greatly enjoyed the appetizers and large selection of drinks on the first leg of the trip over to Bainbridge Island. Also, Derek's music selection is great! :) I was surprised at how chilly it got once the sun went down, despite the air temperature being in the mid-80s, so I would recommend bringing a sweater or light jacket. They did have a handful of cozy blankets onboard, which was great. Overall, we would highly recommend booking a sail with them! read more

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BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!!! My boyfriend worked with Derek from Far Niente to coordinate the most incredible marriage proposal. In the morning Derek met us at the dock with fresh Hawaiian leis and a prosecco toast before we set sail. About an hour in, the boat paused in the most beautiful location overlooking the Seattle skyline and my bf popped the question! Afterward Derek congratulated us with sparkling rosé and chocolate covered strawberries. I was made to believe that we were going back to the dock to pick up lunch but to my shock, my best friends from out of town were waiting for us!! After they joined us we sailed to Bainbridge Island, anchored in another gorgeous location, and had a beautifully presented meal. The whole experience was flawless. Derek is such wonderful, relaxed host and I was happy to share our very intimate and special day with him. Thank you for an amazing, unforgettable engagement experience!! read more

Derek and his wife Judi hosted a little bachelorette shindig for me and five of my closest girlfriends - it was a complete surprise! I still didn't catch on until we got all the way down to the Bell Harbor Marina and onto the dock... couldn't believe it. So awesome!!! The whole evening was amazing. We sat above deck and enjoyed cocktails and gourmet snacks during the sail across Elliot Bay, soaking up the warm evening sunshine. Once we reached Bainbridge Island, we anchored in a quiet cove and enjoyed a delicious dinner (...more like feast!). We enjoyed the sunset views of downtown Seattle with dinner before sailing back across the water and ending the night at the Elliot Bay Marina. It was a spectacular night to be on the water, and the company and venue couldn't have been better. Derek and Judi have thought of every detail to make sure you are comfortable on the boat and attend to every need during your sail. Food was delicious (the appetizers from Palisade were mouth-watering!). Their gorgeous sailboat is quite spacious, comfortable, and well-maintained (and includes a nice little bathroom!). I do recommend bringing a sweater or jacket, as it gets breezy above deck when you're moving along. There is always warm, sheltered seating in the cabin, of course, but the view of the illuminated downtown Seattle waterfront as we sailed home was not to be missed. A wonderful idea for a special occasion, unique date night, entertaining out-of-towners, or just a fun evening out with friends! THANK YOU, Derek and Judi, for making my bachelorette such a special treat!!! =) read more

Amazing, Amazing, Amazing! Can't say enough what an amazing time my husband and I had on our charter. It was my husbands 40th birthday and I surprised him with the cruise. Derek and Judi went above and beyond for our experience.The food was incredible and they made everything feel so welcoming. We will definitely be booking them again in the near future. It's a great thing for celebrations, family in town or just a special just because day. One of the best experiences I've had in a long time. Thank you Derek and Judi for making my husbands birthday incredible. read more

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Judi and Derek helped me plan an amazing Bachelorette party for one of my best friends. I had never been on a sailboat before so I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but it was beautiful and very roomy! The night out on the bay was such a memorable experience for myself and my friends. We had delicious cocktails and appetizers as we sailed out across the bay and played all those fun bachelorette games. Judi and Derek always made sure we were comfortable and had plenty of food and drink. The night was beautiful and Judi and Derek made sure to help us capture all the fun with pictures! After the gorgeous sunset, it got a little chilly. We anchored and retreated to the cabin where we had wonderful dinner and dessert! On our way back, Downtown looked incredible all lit up. I could not have asked for more accommodating, friendly, caring hosts! Judi and Derek truly went above and beyond! Thank you for helping create such a special night for us! I highly recommend this for a special occasion, celebration, or even just a fun night out with friends and/or family. read more

My boyfriend and I decided to do a sailing charter for our 2 year anniversary and it was the most amazing evening!!! Not only did we enjoy getting to know Derek & Judy but the 42 ft. sailboat was absolutely beautiful. We did have a picture perfect evening as it was 85 degrees, clear and sunny in Seattle. We sailed for close to 4 hours, had delicious appetizers from Palisades restaurant, some great little desserts and got to enjoy the beautiful sunset. It was honestly the most perfect evening and the best way to celebrate 2 years with my love. Thanks Derek & Judy!! read more

Five of us booked a sunset cruise with Derek and his wife in April. They really do go above and beyond to make it the most enjoyable experience. Very sweet people, and a lovely experience. read more

My parents were finally able to find a date that worked for them for their 55th anniversary cruise. To say they had an awesome time, doesn't even come close! They travel a lot, and felt like the experience was one of the best they've had in a long time. They kept talking about the fabulous boat...the food...the wine...and, of course, Derek and Judi! They were so complimentary on every aspect of their trip, and even suggested that they return the favor for our anniversaries. Sounds great to me! Thank you again Derek and Judi for all you did to make this such a great trip for our parents! You were just so easy to work with and get ahold of, and it all worked out perfectly! Can't wait to meet you in person someday soon! read more

AMAZING EVENING!!!! I booked this charter to surprise my Mom for her birthday. It was FANTASTIC. Derek and his wife treated us like kings and queens while we enjoyed a wonderful sailing tour of the Puget Sound. I cannot say enough positive things about this experience. My Mom was beside herself with happiness and the rest of us were equally thrilled. This was one of the funnest things I've ever done in Seattle during the 13 years I've lived here. read more

This is one of the best business outings Seattle has to offer!! I booked a 4 hour sail for a key industry conference where I wanted to spend some time with an important prospect. The weather was sunny and the wind was perfect for an afternoon cruise. Derek, the captain and host made it easy to enjoy the amenities of the boat, food and wine. My out of town clients had a great time and appreciated the unique event along with the spectacular views of Puget Sound. It's a great value and lots of fun, I will be booking again very soon. read more

I recently had the pleasure of spending a night out on the water with a group of five friends aboard Far Niente Sailing Charters and I couldn't recommend it more! We took the sunset cruise over to Bainbridge and the views were absolutely spectacular. Derek had the route perfectly mapped out so that we could take advantage of all of the best view points. The sailboat itself is gorgeous, well maintained and very comfortable. The hors d'oeuvres catered by Palisade were delicious! On top of all that, Derek and Judi are superb hosts. As owners of the business, you can tell they take pride in what they do and go out of their way to ensure that everyone is having a great time from start to finish. I was born and raised in Seattle so I've been on several other excursions around the Puget Sound but this trip definitely tops them all! read more

8/12/2013. Wife 40th birthday could not have been better. Derek and Judy worked diligently to make this the perfect trip. We sailed via Seattle water front to Alki and then to Blake Island for dinner on the boat. The good winds made it a great experience but the good company make it worth going back. I am looking forward to our next trip. read more

I chartered Far Niente for my girlfriend and some friends. Derek was absolutely great. He was very flexible in terms of planning the trip, and went out of his way to make sure we had a good time. The boat was great, and of course, the scenery was amazing. Derek also provided delicious food and wine for the trip. We all had an amazing time. If you are looking for a charter, I would definitely recommend Derek and Far Niente. read more

Amazing evening with the nicest people ! We got married aboard the Far Niente and it was a very special evening. Judi and Derek are wonderful and made sure our evening was perfect and it was in every way. Great wine, food, music, conversation and a beautiful ceremony. A beautiful sailboat and an amazing evening we will never forget. Hugs to you both, Nancy and David read more

We contacted Derek in March to book a sailing cruise for my parents' wedding anniversary. Derek respond via email or phone almost immediately. He had great ideas and options for making the occasion memorable and even asked questions about my parents so he could personalize their trip. A few life events have happened causing the need to reschedule not once but twice and Derek has been very gracious and accommodating. That is CUSTOMER SERVICE at its FINEST! My parents have not even sailed yet and I can't say enough good things about this experience. I will recommend his services to anyone and everyone I can!! read more

We had a fantastic cruise with Derek and Judi. They are long-time Seattle residents so were a wealth of local knowledge. They are wonderful hosts and provided the right mix of conversation and time to ourselves. The food was terrific and we all arrived back at the marina while watching rare lightning over the Cascades--very cool. This was a great way to see Seattle from the Sound and to have a relaxing evening out. read more

Extraordinary. Way better than advertised. Personalized and personable. Romantic beyond compare, especially if you can book a full moon sailing. Appetizers with a homemade touch. We booked a sail for our anniversary. Full moon. Great music. Great food, much of it homemade. My highest recommendation. read more

I surprised my partner with a private sunset dinner sail on the Far Niente for his birthday celebration over Memorial Day Weekend. The experience was AAA+++ fabulous!!! The wonderful hosts Derek and Judi carefully considered every detail to make sure our evening was special and enjoyable. We were greeted with a fresh lei when we boarded and started the sail with a champagne toast. The menu and wine was selected based on our preferences. We had several courses, all beautifully presented, fresh and delicious. We sailed from the Magnolia marina to a quiet inlet around Bainbridge Island where we stopped to take in the views and have birthday cake. We enjoyed meeting Derek and Judi and learning about their travels on the boat. They are kind, interesting people who are committed to ensuring their customers are very happy and comfortable. Highly recommend this venue if you want a customized, private sail in Seattle with great hosts and a beautiful sailboat. read more