How do we keep adding stars! From the time we met Jette and Jon, we felt right at home and spoiled…read more Sailing the San Juans was a dream come true, but little did we know how wonderful every single day would be. Attention to every detail from warm coffee mugs to fill our fresh coffee at 7am to gourmet lunches and dinners, and of course desserts. We had a wonderful time. Jon and Jette are the most gracious hosts, who now we consider friends. Jon keeping us safe and informed of the wildlife and sealife, but also taking us on hikes on islands only accessible by boat. Jette with her great sense of humor surprising us at every turn with a new talent from gourmet cooking, writing songs, playing her guitar and sharing her doodles are a few of the many talents she revealed to us. And then there is Geni, sweet Geni, their portugese water "boat" dog. We instantly fell in love and could not get enough of her. I don't now the last time I felt so relaxed and pampered. Thank you Jette and Jon for the wonderul memories! We are looking forward to returning next year! To anyone considering Sailing the San Juans - this is your charter! You will have the time of your life!

Well it has happened agin. I spent an absolutely idyllic week on the Northwind. This boat is a…read moredream to sail - or just watch the incredible scenery. Especially with the delicious scents of Jettes cooking wafting up- I ate more than I should have but it was too good to pass up! The wind and the water, sunlight or moonlight- its magic irl. Off boat excursions were terrific as well- hiking, kayaking, biking- its all there and so rejuvenating/relaxing. TailEr is her usual canine calming spirit. John and Jette continue to inspire me with their incredible skills: nautical, culinary and interpersonal! I could go on and on. The care and attention to all aspects of this trip is just superb. You should sign up as soon as you can though- they book up fast.

What an incredible experience, from start to finish!…read more My husband and I went on Gato Verde's sunset cruise for our anniversary. The booking process was simple, and Todd quickly responded to questions we had prior to booking. We received a text and email reminder on the day of our cruise, with arrival time and specific directions to the boat. Upon arrival, Todd greeted us and led us to the Gato Verde, where we started off with a safety talk and learned about how the Gato Verde runs sustainably--super cool! Todd was an excellent captain; he was friendly and informative throughout, but he wasn't at all overbearing. We were able to have privacy for the majority of the time, then enjoy pleasant conversation with Todd at the times he moved around the boat. The Gato Verde was clean and well kept, and Todd even had games and an ukulele for playing! We LOVED hanging out on the hammocks on the front of the boat. We highly recommend the Gato Verde for any small group or private cruise--you won't be disappointed!

Came up to Bellingham for our anniversary and was looking for something romantic to do. We booked…read morethe sunset sail, and were very pleased. Todd was great at communicating beforehand, did a great job of telling us about the local landmarks and islands, and the best part was that there were only 6 of us on the boat! Not overly crowded like some charters can get, but enough friendly people to make conversation with. He cares very much about conservation and gave us some great local food and sightseeing tips as well. We'll definitely book again the next time we're in Bellingham!

In response to Pamela F's review, I was on board that week, and wish to set straight the record of…read morewhat happened, and more importantly, why. Yes, the weather (for sailing) was terrible. Little to no wind, but this is not the fault of anyone at San Juan Sailing nor Capt. Margaret nor anyone on board. We motored most of the week, and didn't get wind until the last day. Yes, the boat encountered mechanical issues, and San Juan Sailing made sure their mechanic was available as soon as we made port. Since we were not able to charge our batteries via the engine, power conservation was critical. And yes, our instructor, Capt. Margaret did suffer an illness that put her life in danger, and required we students to take extreme measures to get her to medical treatment. All of these things are 100% true. but, as Paul Harvey would say.. "and now... the rest of the story..." There were 4 students aboard. Pam, a nice German gentleman named Christian, myself, and my wife. My wife Suzie and I had just purchased a larger sailboat, and had some experience sailing. Personally, I've been around boats all my life. Neither Pam nor Christian had any experience to speak of, but both seemed at the outset to be eager to learn. In Pam's case, this was not to be. Pam expressed a disdain for everything nautical, eschewing the traditions and questioning the name/nomenclature of everything aboard. "Why is it named X? I think it should be called Y. Lets all call it Y!". She was more interested in her vape pen and outfit changes than in sailing/motoring the boat, and, despite Capt. Margarets' instruction not to use the autopilot, insisted on using each time she was at the helm. On the day that Capt. Margaret took it, we had anchored at a state park and came ashore via the dingy - part of the curriculum. We had a portable VHF and instructions to radio in with status update at 7:00 pm. We had great fun exploring the island, Pam & Christian covering more ground than my wife and I. At 7:00 my wife and I returned to the dock and radio'd in. Capt. Margaret told me that she was not well, that we needed to get back to the boat quick as we could, and make for emergency care. I asked her symptoms and from what she described, appendicitis was my "battlefield" diagnosis. (side note, I'm a veteran. that'll become evident in a moment). I prepped the dinghy for a fast departure, laying out the life jackets so we could just grab one and go, and waited for the rest of the crew to return. Once they were back, I explained the situation and, since my duties that day had me as captain, laid out our plan and how we were going to handle this potentially life threatening situation. "Grab a life jacket, it doesn't matter which", I said. Pam wanted to go through each to find "hers". We finally get in the dink and cast off (the training said we were to all take turns at the outboard, but, situation as it was, we did not do this). As we returned to the boat, I laid out the plan. Christian was our navigator that day, and I directed him to plot us a course as soon as he was aboard. To Pam and Suzie, I laid out our plan of securing the outboard, the dink, and getting the anchor up and the boat underway. Pam was more concerned with her water bottle and changing outfits than getting the boat secured. I would estimate it was 8:30 pm before we were under way, we were losing daylight fast and had a fair distance to get to port. I directed (I wasn't asking, a life was at stake) that Pam and Suzie go forward with lights and watch for logs/kelp/marine animals that we didn't want to hit. Yes, it was cold. we were all cold, hungry too. Once Christian had a course for me, I sent him forward to relieve Pam & Suzie so they could change, and then to get some snacks for us. As soon as we were within range, we were on the VHF with the captain of another San Juan Sailing boat, giving him and update on Capt. Margaret's condition, what the layout of the port was like, etc. At this point we are sailing in pitch black (Sorry, SJS, I know we broke that rule), running the engine harder than SJS allowed. (Sorry SJS, broke that one too). We made it into port - the education Capt. Margaret provided about channel markers and night navigation were put to the test, and as a crew, we succeeded. We got into port, and the only open dock was the US Customs dock. As we got close, Capt Margaret did manage to make it up topsides. As soon as we docked (the crew from the other SJS boat were there to catch lines), Capt. Margaret was rushed off to medical care, leaving us to secure the boat. We learned that shore power was not an option (we were a 30 amp boat, all the power pylons were 50 amp, and we learned from another boater that 30 to 50 amp adapters had been known to trip the breakers, which would have left every boat on the dock without shore power. So, we stayed on battery power for the night. Once the ship was secure, I invited everyone to come ashore to find hot food (continued)

This is a fantastic charter company. Their attention to safe sailing is epic! I was totally…read morecomfortable sailing in new waters with their detailed no sail areas marked on the local charts. We had problems with our first boat and Lothar brought us a replacement early the next morning. A charter company can not fix problems unless those problems are reported by charter guests! I will sail with them again and you should too.

I was visiting my daughter in Bellingham and was invited on a day out by Chariot Adventures. Cathy…read morethe owner of the boat made me feel relaxed as I was pretty nervous. She is very patient and teaches the people on the boat a lot about sailing while you are on your excursion. I would highly recommend her for an excursion or the other services she offers. She will take you out for a day or many days. You want a great experience, than Chariot Adventures is who you should call.

Our 2-day sail on Chariot with Cathy Franklin was fantastic. The boat is beautiful, Bellingham…read moreharbor is a great gateway to the San Juan Islands, and Cathy was wonderful. Chariot is well stocked, well organized and totally charming. The crew of six included my wife and I, our two girls (12 and 15), our good friend Murray, and Cathy. Cathy was calm, capable, and great fun to be with. She encouraged the girls to take turns at the helm which they loved, but I think they loved piloting the dingy best. Cathy pulled us all into the experience and shared her love of sailing and the San Juan Islands. We spent the night at Matia Island, then explored Patos, and Sucia. Finally we had a late dinner in secluded Inati Bay on Lummi Island and sailed back into Bellingham harbor under the stars. We will definitely be back. Thank you Cathy!

My daughter went on a HS Spring Break Trip and had an amazing time. She knew nothing about sailing…read morebefore going, and learned a lot. I highly recommend this boat and the folks working here.

This was an excellent way to have a Bellingham Bay dinner cruise, the sailboat experience was…read morewonderful, it was fun giving some assistance in raising and lowering of the sails. The dinner was really delicious, worthy as a top restaurant fare. We had booked our cruise for four people for the wrong date and KEVIN (First Mate) was able to get us on board anyway. Definitely will be repeat customers!

We did a bioluminescence evening tour. The guides-Ginny and Brianna-made it interesting,…read moreeducational, and fun. We ranged in age from 20 to 80 (our grandma is very fit), and all enjoyed the active experience.

What a wonderful community resource. As stated by S A, there are lots of options for hourly…read morerentals. We had rented paddle boards for a few hours. They asked if we had any questions or needed help. Since we did not, they just let us do our thing. I liked that. It gets intimidating having people always watching you or floating around if you do not want it. We did see them answering questions and helping people who requested it, so if you are nervous or in need of assistance they will happily help you out. There were also life jackets, wet suits, and even dry bags available for rental in addition to the equipment (canoes, paddle boards, sail boats). You reserve a slot and off you go to launch from their nice ramp, which is also open to the public. I definitely recommend wearing flip flops or water shoes. I am not from the area, so did not know what to expect. It was a bit rocky in some areas so I was glad to not be launching barefoot. The staff we had that day were fantastic. They were very nice and many of them very experienced and helpful. My friend told me they were also all volunteers. They do have a tip jar for their assistance though, so be sure to bring some cash to support them! All around great experience and I highly recommend if you are in the area looking for something fun to do!

I have been eyeing San Juan Cruises for at least two years and this year my oldest son wanted to…read morecelebrate his birthday exploring by boat. Booking our adventure was extremely easy via the San Juan Cruises website. I greatly appreciate how detailed the reservation information was, and most importantly how courteous the entire team was throughout our time aboard. The team went into great detail about our journey, history on each island we passed, and insights on the protected wildlife we could possibly encounter during our voyage. The vessel was extremely accommodating for all of us on board, ample seating, viewing opportunities, and two restrooms. The team makes an excellent warm lunch was provided; while snacks and beverages were available throughout the entire duration of the voyage (grab a cup of coffee Blue Herron coffee beans based out of Bow, WA makes a great cup!) We managed to encounter eagles, seals, walruses, dolphins, a gray whale, and two different orca pods. Each sighting was absolutely breathtaking and majestic! I could not ever imagine going to a theme park to view these magnificent animals. The voyage takes between 5-6 hours plan, you'll be surprised at how quickly that time goes by. Helpful tip for parents bringing children feel free to pack coloring books, board games, binoculars, and snacks for your littles the San Juan Cruise team welcomes it for the little voyagers. My parents have already had planned to book an excursion during their visit next month, and I highly recommend for anyone who lives in or visiting the area to do so as well!

My boyfriend and I booked the afternoon whale watching cruise at San Juan Cruises not knowing what…read moreto expect and it ended up being the highlight of the weekend. The crew was very friendly and I loved that it was guided by the Captain and Naturalist onboard. I learned a lot about islands in the Salish Sea and we saw several species of animals. There are several great viewing spots on the boat and it's easy to see from inside if it gets too windy. I learned so much about the Biggs orcas, sea lions, and harbor seals. It's not promised, but we saw two different groups of the orcas right at the beginning of the trip and surprisingly at the end in Bellingham bay. It was so nice to learn about them and get an up close view (within safe distance). They served a lunch onboard which was included in the cost, however we packed our own. They also have beverages and snacks for sale throughout the ride. I didn't bring binoculars on board, but I did see people with them. My iPhone was enough to get close up videos and pictures of the animals! I would definitely recommend this to family and friends!

Stay away from the youth sailing camps if your child is new to sailing. The instructors expose the…read morekids to scary situations causing fear rather than instilling confidence. We traveled to Bellingham just for this camp. Both my children really enjoyed sailing in the past. After two days at the camp, my son was so scared he refused to get on a sailboat and spent 2 days riding on the instructors powerboat. My daughter thought it was fun but terrifying. We didn't return to the camp the final day (what a waste of money). A friend recommended we try a lesson at the Community Boat Center (CBC) in Fairhaven. My son went from refusing to get in the boat and panicking when it moved to loving sailing again. By the end of the (2 hour) lesson he was climbing all over the boat and thanking the instructors for rekindling his passion for sailing. Next year we will be traveling to Bellingham again and signing up at CBC. They will provide a child friendly environment that promotes confidence and tunes into kids. The instructors at BYC, really didn't connect with the kids on a personal level and they encouraged rough housing on the docks. On our last day, a kid was pulled out of the water clutching his arm and crying in pain.

Daughter and son-in-law belong to this yacht club and brought me here for a few events. Was a nice…read moreplace and people are very friendly. The Marina is very pretty

My husband and I purchased tickets on Groupons. We had the best time. The crew was lively and…read moreengaging. We were encuraged to walk around, visit the captain. The only suggestion would be is to install a monitor showing our location as we traverse the Straights. We will book again for next summer and bring out grandchildren.

Took boat out of Lopez Islander. 10/10 experience. TK and Jake crewed. Loved the small sturdy boat…read moreand the great visibility. Only a dozen folks on board and you can see everything from your seat thru big open windows. We saw bald eagles, steller sea lions, orcas, a grey whale, a minke whale, harbor seals, and lots of seabirds. Good explanations. Loved every minute.

Nice dealership here in Bellingham…read more They communicated with me in a timely fashion. Overall, I had a good experience and would suggest others to use Bellhaven. Cheers.

We called interested in signing up for their basic to bareboat cruise and learn class, but had…read moreseveral questions since their website doesn't have very much information. The lady we talked to was rude and her answer to any of our question was did you see our website? It was like pulling teeth getting answers out of her! And yes we did look and read over the website before calling there wasn't enough information on it obviously so that's why we had questions! It seemed that it was a chore for her to answer our questions you would think she would want to be more helpful and persuasive so we would want to pay this company lots of money for their sailing school... needless to say we will be looking elsewhere for a business that seems more happy to take our money.