Unforgettable hands-on sailing for the whole family! Sailing with Captain Ward on Aura was easily the highlight of our trip to Orcas Island. We were a 6-person group ranging in age from 3 to 65+, and Captain Ward made every single one of us feel completely welcome, safe, and entertained. He's remarkably patient and knowledgeable--not only about sailing, but about local history and geography as well. He even used his local knowledge of the area to make sure our kiddo got to see seals, which made their day! What made the trip so special was how hands-on it was: he gave everyone who wanted a turn a chance to take the tiller and help work the sails. It's a wonderful, personal experience on a stunning vintage boat. Highly recommend to anyone visiting Orcas Island! read more

Northwest Classic Day Sailing - Sailing Near Me - Eastsound, Washington

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Do not hesitate, do not think twice. Book a day on the water with Northwest Classic Day Sailing right now! Captain Ward makes sailing fun and relaxing and is eager to share his knowledge of sailing and the San Juan Islands. I sail with Captain Ward every year, and every year I learn something new. A delightful day on the water with a great Captain is waiting for you!! Book now read more

For the price and the experience, you simply can't pass this up! We had a fantastic three-hour sail with Northwest Classic. Captain Ward took our group of six out of Deer Harbor for a 6 p.m. sail, and it couldn't have been better. Half of our group had previous sailing experience, while the other half were complete beginners. It was the perfect introduction to sailing for the newbies and a wonderful way for all of us to experience the beauty of the islands. We'll definitely book again! If you're staying on Orcas Island, or on a neighboring island in the San Juans, check out classicdaysails.com read more

We loved our morning out with Northwest Classic! Captain Ward was incredible with our young kiddos their first time on a sailboat - they steered, pulled, cranked, and even helped run the motor as we came into and out of Deer Harbor Marina. Our six year old shared, "This was even better than I thought!" while we were out on the water. And, the location cannot be beat. We would happily head out again with Northwest Classic Sailing next time we are on Orcas. read more

Captain Ward made for a fantastic day on the water. He was knowledgeable, informative, and a pleasure to sail with. He quickly realized we enjoyed sailing ourselves and struck the perfect balance between offering guidance and letting us take the helm. Along the way, he shared interesting insights about Orcas Island, the surrounding waters, and local history that made the experience even more enjoyable. It was a perfect afternoon of sailing, and we would highly recommend Captain Ward to anyone looking for an authentic and memorable experience. read more

Beautiful evening sail with Captain Ward at 4:30. The sound really clears out at that time so you have a ton of space to enjoy the wind and water to yourselves! We have some sailing experience and we were able to man the tiller nearly the whole cruise. It was so fun to experience the islands from the water and learn about all the sailing opportunities for adventure nearby. Thank you for one of the highlights of our trip! Definitely grab dinner at the BBQ joint at the Deer Harbor Inn after your sail, hearts and bellies full!! read more

Could not have had a better day Sunny, warm and just the right amount of wind. A true blessing for the first weekend in Oct Ward was very calm and polite Let you do as much or as little as you wanted. Ask the question and he shares openly, instructs and gives pointers in recognizing wind, current, other boat traffic Pointing out landmarks, history flora and fauna Would sail again with Ward any day read more

What a fun afternoon on the water! Captain Ward was educational and funny. We sailed around islands for which he knew all the names and history. Great time and even flew the spinnaker. Highly recommended this wonderful experience! read more

This was a terrific day sailing trip on a classic wooden boat. Captain Ward takes you around the Wasp Islands and the channel between Orcas and San Juan (depending on wind). He identifies the islands for you and even tells a few stories. Best of all, he has you help sail the boat, both steering the tiller and hauling rope for sails (if you have delicate hands, bring gloves). Just a great trip. read more

My family (of 6) used Ward for a sail when we were on the island for our dads 65th birthday. It was, hands down, the highlight of our trip! Ward was kind and generous and took the time to learn everyone's name and really got those of us who were interested involved in the sailing process. This experience is worth so much more than the price and I HIGHLY recommend. read more

Ward was a great captain. Our group had a wonderful time sailing. I would highly recommend adding this to your vacation to do list.

We had a fantastic adventure with Captain Ward. We were traveling with our two children and the memories he helped make will last a life time. The journey begins in Deer Harbor and is relatively easy to find. We parked near the post office and made our way down the dock. There is a place to grab food and bathroom facilities on the dock. Just passed the gift shop on the left was Captain Ward's nostalgic boat. He had life vest ready for our kiddos which was a blessing. He allowed the kiddos to steer the boat, provided amazing insight to the geographical area, and sailing knowledge. One of our children has special needs and we are truly grateful for Captain Ward's patience and guidance. He taught us the different parts of the boat, terminology, and allowed us to assist with the sails and different parts of the boat. We didn't feel rushed. The atmosphere was very peaceful and welcoming. We saw lots of adult and baby seals, birds, a porpoise, and a jellyfish. It was a very relaxing trip. I would highly recommend to anyone wanting to embark on a less touristy experience with a laid back local. read more

Northwest Classic Day Sailing - Sailing - Sailing Near Me - Eastsound, Washington

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My seven-year-old son and I had a great evening of sailing with Cap't Ward. I told Ward that my son wanted to learn about sailing. Ward taught him more in three hours than he would have learned at a week of sailing camp. Ward let my son start the motor, back the boat out of the marina, use the tiller, and adjust the sails. He was patient and informative. I couldn't have asked for more. My son wanted to participate in sailing the boat. Had we just wanted to hang out and relax, that would have been fine too. We had a lovely evening sailing around the San Juan's. I would recommend booking this trip in a heartbeat. It was really nice and very reasonably priced. read more

We had a lovely time with Ward!! Absolutely awesome day of sailing out of Orcas Island. Ward was very relaxed, patient, and knowledgeable about the area. He even allowed us to take turns steering the boat and taught us a little about sailing! It was my parents' first trip out to the San Juan's and our day sailing with Ward was definitely the highlight! We brought some snacks, paid for an extra hour, and I think we could have stayed all day. :) we will definitely be back again to sail with Ward! read more

Northwest Classic Day Sailing - Ward's sailboat - Sailing Near Me - Eastsound, Washington

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Our family of 6 went sailing with Ward and loved it! As has been mentioned in other reviews, he involves anyone who would like to help. Our 2 grandchildren had a chance to steer the boat for a while. Ward is great at explaining the workings of his sailboat and telling about the islands/landmarks around the area. We too were thrilled when we got to go past an island where lots of seals were sunning themselves and swimming around. Great fun! read more

We had a great time sailing with Captain Ward on his beautiful sailboat, Aura. He was knowledgeable, skilled, fun, and easy to talk to. I went with my partner and our infant son, and felt safe and happy the entire time. It was a great new experience, and the Captain was accommodating and also let us participate and learn as we went! read more

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This was the first time my wife and I had ever been sailing, and what a wonderful experience! Ward was a great captain/host and he was VERY knowledgeable about not only sailing, but also about the history of the San Juan Islands... as we'd sail along, he was always pointing out little details about different islands or houses that we'd see. I also loved how he got us involved in the actual sailing of the boat. Overall fantastic experience. Highly recommend if you've never done it before. read more

Wonderful sailing around the San Juan Islands with Captain Ward! He allows you to help in the sailing and patiently answers all questions. A wonderful way to spend the afternoon. read more

Our experience with Northwest Classic Day Sailing was fantastic! Having never sailed before, we received perfect beginner pointers, all while enjoying the sail and the beautiful views. Our captain, Ward, was an incredible host and extremely knowledgeable about all things sailing and all things Orcas island. I cannot recommend this experience enough. Thank you Ward! read more

We had a very pleasant morning sailing with Ward. He was a gracious host and went out of his way to include us (even my young children) in the operation of his boat. We saw some great spots, lots of wildlife, and all around had a very memorable time. Highly recommended! read more

We recently rented a sailboat for a few hours for my friend's birthday. It was awesome! The guy who owned the boat let us all take turns steering, he even dropped us off at the ferry dock for us so we wouldn't have to take a $40 cab ride back! We highly recommend this tour. We saw lots of baby seals and a bald eagle- it was phenomenal! read more

Northwest Classic Day Sailing - Sailing Near Me - Eastsound, Washington

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I booked this adventure with my husband and three of our kids (11, 13, 16), and we had an absolute blast!! I highly recommend Classic Daysailing. Each of us learned how to steer, hoist up the sails, tack. Ward was a highly experienced captain, responsive to the group, professional and fun at the same time. Seeing my kids lighthearted and curious again was the best part. read more

We had the best time sailing with Captain Ward Fay! We went out on an evening sail and the sunset on the water was so beautiful. The captain taught us the basics of sailing and let us do things like steer the rudder and adjust the sails. Overall this was the top highlight of our trip to the islands! We even saw two seals while we were out on the water! read more

Ward was very personable and taught us a bit about sailing. He encouraged my daughter to steer the entire way. She was quite timid about going on the sailboat at first and by the time she got off the boat, she wanted one of her own. He engaged my husband and father in law to help with the sails and jib. It was very relaxing and we even got to see some seals and eagles. Though it says for up to 6 people, I think 4 is more than sufficient. It might be quite tight with more than 4 people. Very fun outting. We all loved it. read more

A group of six of us took a 3-hour sailing trip with our captain Ward. Ward was accommodating and a very gracious host - he iimmediately learned all of our names and included us in the process. We were each given an opportunity to relax, bringing on board our drinks and snacks, and also were each able to participate with the steering, throttle, and sails. It was a beautiful, relaxing, breath-taking day. We saw several seals and a bald eagle catching a fish out of the water (wow!). Ward is incredibly familiar with the San Juans and was able to tell us about even the smallest islands and some history. Two thumbs up - it was a fantastic experience! read more

Northwest Classic Day Sailing - The Aura on a beautiful sunny sailing trip! - Sailing Near Me - Eastsound, Washington

We've gone out twice with Ward and thoroughly enjoyed our trips. He makes you feel at ease and has you steer the vintage sailboat. He is very casual and experienced. For those looking for a nice tour in a vintage boat, my wife and I highly recommend spending an afternoon with Ward and his sail boat. The location is fairly easy to find, and free parking is near by. If you've never been to Orcas Island, this is a nice ferry ride from Anacortes. Lots of nice things to see, so bring your camera. read more

We caught a break in the weather and had a wonderful sunny afternoon to sail Orcas and surrounding islands. Captain Ward was a great host, teaching us novices how to navigate the waters and giving us local history lessons. Saw lots of seals, a couple of porpoises and countless eagles. Thanks for a great afternoon.! read more

Ward showed us a great time with beautiful views of the islands from the water. Also got nice sailing lession!! Highly recommend this!

Great! Loads of fun, nice skipper. And you get to do as much of the sailing as you want. My wife and I ran the tiller the whole time.

Captain Ward was a great host. He let us take over some of the sailing duties (but was attentive and responsive enough that we never felt nervous or overburdened by them), which was a lot of fun. The Aura was a beautiful ship and she comfortably fit our party plus the captain. Beautiful weather, a few wildlife spottings, great trip. Could've stayed out for another two hours! read more

We had a great time. Ward was very cool (in both senses of nice and relaxed) and the boat is beautiful. Of course the area is gorgeous and Ward told us some interesting things about it. Definitely recommended if you're interested in a sailing charter in the San Juans. read more