A Perfect Day on the Bay: Sailing in San Francisco

Sailing through the blue-gray waters of the Bay, the wind whips through my hair and sends a shiver across my exposed skin. It’s mid-August, but the air turns from crisp and cool to sharp and biting as our catamaran gains speed and heads toward open waters.

The landscape is coated in a blanket of gray fog, so thick and palpable you can feel the droplets of moisture in the air. Alcatraz looms on the horizon like a ghost ship, appearing suddenly and faintly in the distance, before disappearing into the mist once again.

But our captain set his sights on a different landmark, still hidden behind the dense layers of gray and white. Then, the fog breaks; the tip of the structure peeks out through the cloud layer, beckoning us closer.

All the while, the hulls of the catamaran cut through the icy waves as we draw near to our target.

The winds are in our favor—suddenly, the afternoon sunlight pours down through the cloud layer and dispels the remaining fog. Our destination materializes before our eyes, a majestic reddish-orange giant standing watch over a sea of blue and gray and brown.

The Golden Gate Bridge.

Sailing the San Francisco Bay is something I had wanted to do since moving to the Bay Area in May 2017. Despite many day trips to the city over the years, we had never spent much time enjoying the beautiful waterfront…due in part to the unpredictable, omnipresent fog that lurks over the Bay (always so mischievous, Karl!)

Like many people, I’m often guilty of overlooking local treasures in favor of more “exotic” destinations. But, c’mon—I’m incredibly lucky to live under an hour away from one of the most iconic cities in the United States. I need to take advantage of that more often, right?

So finally, I decided it was time. I booked two spots on the 1pm Bay Sail with Adventure Cat Sailing Charters, grabbed my trusty denim jacket (layers are key when it comes to visiting San Francisco) and made my way up to The City By the Bay.

It was sailing time!

Adventure Cat’s tours depart from Pier 39, one of the most bustling and touristic destinations in the Fisherman’s Wharf district. Our cruise was scheduled for 1pm sharp, so we arrived to the pier at 12:45pm to check in, as per instructions.

Side note: As much as I hate the crowds at Pier 39, I have to admit I always love seeing the sea lions!

Heeding the captain’s warnings about the potential of getting soaked near the front of the boat, Derek and I found a spot on the port side of the catamaran. We pulled away from Pier 39 and into the Bay…and just like that, we were off!

The day started off quite foggy, and with the wind chill it felt a solid 10-15 degrees colder than it did back in Fisherman’s Wharf. Even if you’re visiting San Francisco on a sunny August day like we did, always come prepared with layers!

We sailed past Alcatraz, then continued along in the direction of the Golden Gate Bridge. It was such a fun moment when the fog finally lifted and we were able to catch a clear view of the bridge in the distance.

As we made our way closer, the captain zigged and zagged in front of the bridge, ensuring that everyone on the boat was treated to photo-worthy views of San Francisco’s most iconic monument.

Gazing upon the Golden Gate Bridge is one of my all-time favorite activities in San Francisco, and even though I’ve seen it many times before, viewing the bridge from the water was a completely new experience.

Especially when we sailed directly beneath the bridge!

After cruising around near the bridge for a while, we headed back across the Bay to take a closer look at Alcatraz. Having visited the island and walked through the cell house years ago, all I could think about were the haunting legends and myths surrounding this historic prison.

90 minutes later, and we found ourselves pulling back into Pier 39, greeted by a chorus of sea lion barks and growls. With the whole afternoon still ahead of us, Derek and I opted to drive across the bridge to the charming town of Sausalito, for a bit of booze, seafood and even more waterfront views.

A perfect day on the Bay indeed!

---

What to Know About Sailing the San Francisco Bay

• The tour that we booked was the 1pm Bay Sail with Adventure Cat Sailing Charters. This tour costs $45 per person and runs for 90 minutes. Alternative departure times are 11am and 3pm.
• Adventure Cat also offers a sunset sail (departure times vary) which costs $60 per person. Two complimentary beverages and light hors d’oeuvres are included.
• Dress very warmly, and bring layers. Our cruise took place at 1pm in August…and even in a long maxi dress and a denim jacket, I was very cold! Jeans, a t-shirt and a jacket would be a smart choice. Flat shoes are definitely recommended.
• You can purchase refreshments, alcoholic beverages and snacks onboard. If I hadn’t been so chilly, I would have loved to sip a glass of white wine while sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge.

---

Have you ever visited San Francisco? Is sailing the San Francisco Bay something you would enjoy doing?