Harbor sailboat is the best place to charter a sail boat in San Diego. Everybody who works there goes above and beyond. The boats are very well maintained. Dustin and John at the dock are very knowledgable and skilled in explaining the boat before leaving the dock and also assist with docking upon return when needed, which can be challenging at times. They make sure everything works and is in order. I have taken their ASA 101 and 103 class and I have taken private lessons with Captain Buck and Rob, who are extremely experienced, knowledgeable and skilled in teaching, if you like a more individual approach. Paige in the office is the best manager you can dream of, she always makes sure that the individual needs of her customers are met. She really knows the fleet and communicates well with everyone on the dock and makes sure everything runs smoothly and one can have the best sailing experience. Harbor sailboat has allowed me to live my dream of becoming a skipper. thank you. YOU are amazing! Dr. Ursula Pertl read more

I am a relatively new member (January 2026). I have taken the 101 and 103 and rented the Capri 22 sailboats. The boats are all very clean and very well maintained. The dock staff are always willing to assist a be there to help. Can't say enough about "Paige" in the office. I think she is the magic of Harbor Sailboats. She is always pleasant and professional. Now as I move to renting 103 qualifying boats I plan on getting experience on their Beneteau fleet. I had the opportunity to do a walk through on many of them and they are all very clean and well maintained. I can't say enough about the company and with the new construction underway, Harbor Sailboats will have a new modern office and dock area. If you have ever thought that Sailing would be something you would like to try I highly recommended them! read more

It was a nice experience! Clean boat, availability, parking and friendly customer service!

Reached out to some local friends who are avid followers of all things ocean to find the best sailing school in San Diego to complete my ASA. Coursework. This place came highly recommended and offers the ability to rent boats after you get your credentials. Signed up for a private ASA 101 with Capt'n Buck. After spending 2 days together I can absolutely testify this was the best decision - he was super informed, calm, knowledgeable, brought props to teach me (visual aids to supplement the book reading), recommended apps I can use on my phone to stay aware of current ocean conditions, and was generally pleasant and fun to train with. I recommend him with the highest accolades if you are serious about sailing and want to get the time and practice to lay a solid foundation. Looking forward to continue taking ASA courses!! Huge shout out to the company for having great boats, nice dock crew - and I mention a jacuzzi and pool? What are you waiting for? read more

Harbor Sailboats - Capri 22 - Boating Near Me - San Diego, California

Rob tested out my husband on ASA 101. My hubby was new to the Catalina Capri sailboats and said Rob really put him through the paces. Focused on walking him through the boat bow to stern. The reviews about friendly and knowledgeable staff are all correct. From our first visit just to check out the place it has been a pleasant experience. We had our first family sail today. 4 hours spent unplugged from our phones and in fresh air. Highly recommend for quality family time! read more

Harbor Sailboats - Boating Near Me - San Diego, California

Harbor Sailboats is the finest sailing club in San Diego. Friendly staff, finest Benateau boats, and great instruction. In four years with the club, we've never had a negative encounter. Our previous club on Harbor Island was unfriendly and unprofesional with poorly maintained old boats. read more

I've been a member here for almost 2 years. Rented many times. Have taken two sailing classes with them. Great employees super boats great service. Shout out to Paige Martin and Don Rock. Both are awesome. Paige is amazing at quick replies and taking care of reservations. Don is a great instructor read more

I completed my ASA 101 class here and the entire experience was fantastic from start to finish! Erica in the front office cheerfully answered all of my questions about the classes and how to sign up. Robert was my knowledgeable instructor with lots of experience and patience. His calm manor of instruction made it stress free for me out there on the bay as we were sailing away learning the required skills and drills and having FUN! The Catalina 22's that we used were clean and well maintained. After I get more experience I'll be signing up for the ASA 103 class, Basic Coastal Cruising! I highly recommend Harbor Sailboats for sailing lessons! read more

Just finished my second day of ASA 101 with the instructor Tom and would absolutely recommend to people i know. Tom was a very practical, passionate and hands-on instructor. He emphasized the things we really needed to know in order to sail the boat successfully. This was helpful since there is a lot to learn initially and it can be overwhelming. He frequently reinforced good habits when handling the boat. When the wind came up (10-15 kts, a lot for the little 22' capri) he didn't have us go in or give up, he taught us how to handle the boat safely in a situation that didn't initially feel safe. He showed us the limits of the boat and how to get out of common unsafe situations such as overpowered sails, accidental tacks and jibes, stuck in irons, sailing by the lee, and inattentive drivers of other boats. I found this experience invaluable since I plan on sailing more with family, friends, and other classmates - people who aren't instructors, experts or perhaps sailors at all - and I will need to be able to handle any situation that arises. Overall, thought he was a great instructor. The club itself was great as well. It has reasonable prices compared to competitors. I shopped around before deciding on harbor sailboats and was not disappointed. Erica was super helpful and answered all my questions clearly and in a timely manner. They also have a nice fleet of boats consisting of newer Beneteau's and Catalina's which are well maintained and clean. I'm looking forward to logging some more hours with some of friends, family and classmates before moving on to the 103 course. I absolutely recommend this place. read more

Harbor Sailboats - Capri 22 - Boating Near Me - San Diego, California

Ahoy, Cap'n Jones here! Low rental rates and nicely maintained boats make Harbor Sailboats a nice marina. I've taken some lessons and have a nice time on San Diego bay with my friends. Just don't use the head! read more

I typically don't post on yelp, but when you experience something this enjoyable, I feel that it is necessary. Keenan, Kyle, Tom, and Aaron made sure that everything was perfect! This type of experience is exactly what I was looking for while visiting San Diego. I'm not sure you can find something, or a place, that would have made our families/friends trip more memorable! Thank you Hirsh Family! Harbor Sailboats is a place to remember! We will be back! read more

Harbor Sailboats - Much needed family and friend time! Thank you harbor sailboats! I'll be back! - Boating Near Me - San Diego, California

I've been using boats at Harbor Sailboats for years! I love this place, super friendly staff! Very patient when it comes to teaching. I started as a newbie and now I'm a pro! read more

Had a great first experience with Harbor Sailboats yesterday. A friend of mine was in town and rented a Beneteau 34 which was by far one of the nicest and well maintained boats I have ever been on. The staff all seemed very professional and it carried over to the quality of their boats. I look forward to sailing San Diego Bay again this summer on one of their vessels. read more

Been a member for a year now. I joined to learn how to sail & take advantage of the boat rentals. Although I have only taken the first class (ASA101) I have enjoyed renting from their fleet of capri 22's several times over the past year. They have boats up to 47 ft, but you have to complete other classes or have a sailing resume in order to rent the larger boats. Staff is very friendly, instructors are cool & boats well maintained. They have lots of club activities, as well as a club online bulletin board for anyone looking for crew. Membership also entitles you to use of the pool & jacuzzi at the marina. I plan on taking more classes with them as time & money permit. I Recommend Harbor Sailboats to anyone looking for sailing classes & sailboat rentals in San Diego. read more

I am a member of a reciprocating sailing club in Southern California and have charted boats on numerous occasions from Harbor Sailboats. It has always been a great pleasure working with the folks at Harbor Sailboats. The office personnel are very friendly and supportive. The dock crew very knowledgeable and helpful. The Catalina and Beneteau boats are in pristine condition, very well maintained and a pleasure to sail. If you want to go sailing in and around San Diego Harbor, go and visit Harbor Sailboats. read more

I was a member twice. Recently cancelled my membership as I found that I was just not getting my money's worth and not using the club as often. I am ambivalent about them, as they have always been very nice to me. They have a very nice fleet of boats that are well maintained, the guys on the docks (Kevin and Kyle) are great and very helpful. However, I have found the management to be very inflexible and just not focused on customer service or loyalty. There is an arrogance and sense of entitlement. What Jeff T. described is a perfect example. They do what is best for their bottom line and do not consider the member's situation and request. There has to be some give and take and reasonable exceptions made given the situation. I have found in my own experience and other club members that they are not willing to do that. read more

Due to my Chagrin I could not compete the two day sailing course. Having said that Matt the Civil Engineer was an awesome instructor and he gave me encouragement on a continuing basis on my first day. Kim Volm DRE#020440644 Coldwell Banker. read more

Just finished ASA 104. Captain Dave Brotherton is top notch (I also had him for ASA 103) I have chartered several different boats with Harbor Sailboats and I have always been impressed with the cleanliness of the boats and the professionalism of the staff. My first review was in July and now it is almost October and I would give Harbor Sailboats 10 Stars if I could. read more

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I've been a member for 7 years, and have nothing but good things to say. ASA 101 - I took this 7 years ago, but still remember it like yesterday. The instructor was very thorough, and we practiced a lot of important skills repeatedly, including simulated water rescues. On day 2, we came upon some very strong winds, so we practiced reefing the sails. Although I had been sailing with friends for years, I learned a ton of stuff! ASA 103 - Took this just last year. Again the instructor was very thorough, and tough, and would not let us get away with anything. Although he passed us all, he let us know that he thought we all needed a lot more practice. Boats are in great condition, all in working order and very clean and well maintained. Front desk is friendly and dockhands are extra helpful - what more could you ask of a sailing club?! read more

Spent today in Sailing 101, and as a queer female learning to sail amongst all men, well let's just say... it was terrible. We started the day with the instructor Tom smacking me in the face with the Tiller cover almost on purpose, he whipped it off so fast it smacked me in the face at full force... he shrugged it off with a half-ass apology then turned it into a mockery of me by laughing at me for it. Then later he put me on the helm and proceeded to berated me for not knowing what I was doing (of course I don't know what I'm doing, I'm in the 101 course and I AM PAYING YOU to TEACH ME). He immediately wanted me to tack, after no knowledge of the tiller or tacking, or anything aside from reading the book before class. He didn't allow me to get a feel for the boat or explain anything at all and in the very busy San Diego Bay on Labor Day weekend...He just told me to start tacking. I was terrified, as would anyone thrown into that situation after being physically assaulted and made a mockery. He then decided to berate me in front of the entire crew because I voiced my concern and asked for instruction before attempting that maneuver. He told me that if I wasn't comfortable then I wouldn't pass the class after only being at the helm for 5 minutes, a mere 20 minutes into the first day of the full weekend course. (Again zero class room time before this and zero instruction before..) Later in the same afternoon, when it was my turn again at the helm, he condescendingly asked me if, "the water was calm enough for me to feel comfortable." I felt like I had to constantly stick up for myself as a woman, but also as a beginner... it was a terrible learning environment. Not to mention we had zero instruction beforehand then immediately put us at the helm... and in Tom's own words we were, "thrown to the wolves." If you're a woman, I would say don't waste your valuable 500 dollars to go through the terrible stuff I had to put up with and DEFINITELY don't take the course with Tom. He will put you through hell, physically assault and then verbally assault and berate you for not knowing what HE IS SUPPOSED to teach you. Save your money and find something that has a better and more healthy learning environment, isn't abusive towards women, and one that is inclusive to queers and/or women sailors. To Tom, I would say, the women's place is not just in the kitchen. We have a right to learn to sail too, without being physically and verbally assaulted and/or berated by you. Also, leave your prejudice about queer folks and misogyny out of the learning environment. If I could, I would give him 0 stars. The. Worst. Teacher. Ever. read more

Best charter company in San Diego. Great variety of new boats, friendly staff, and perfect location. They will help you get back on the water. Highly recommend read more

I recently purchased a sail yacht through Harbor Sailboats yacht broker, Keenan Hirsh. I have sailed aboard their club charter boats a number of times and have always noticed how meticulously and professionally their fleet is managed and maintained, so when the opportunity to purchase a vessel from their fleet presented itself I did not hesitate. Keenan took me through the entire buying process with ease, even saving me a lot of money when an issue arose on a yacht that I initially made an offer on in Long Beach. Keenan communicated clearly, professionally and in a timely manner, and when the time to sail my new yacht away came, he was right there at the marina with the keys. I can't say enough things about the professionalism of their entire staff, and highly recommend them for any and all boating and yachting needs! read more

I just completed ASA 101 with Harbor Sailboats, and I am planning on taking ASA 103 and 104 with them as well. My initial experience was very favorable. The instructor was very knowledgeable, and even though I was already pretty familiar with the subject matter of the course (I'm getting certifications to be able to bareboat-charter), I learned enough in the 101 class to justify the time and money spent, beyond the certification. The boats were clean and well-maintained, and I've had no problems getting questions answered by email from the staff. I can recommend these folks without hesitation. read more

On a family vacation to San Diego and took a 4 hour ride on a 37 foot sailboat. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Capt. Brett was terrific. He was very knowledgeable and taught us a lot about sailing. He was also great at pointing out interesting points of interest around the bay. Would definitely go back to Harbor Sailboats. read more

I'm impressed with the fleet of Beneteau's they offer and how well maintained they are. Had a good experience here twice this week (as luck would have it) and will be back next week. My friend is a member and when my membership at another place ends I'll be switching to Harbor Sailboats. read more

I absolutely love the fleet of boats. I've thoroughly researched other sailing clubs and nothing even comes close. If you want to learn how to to sail (the right way) then this is the club you want to join. Cole was my 101 instructor and he definitely knows what he's doing- confident but reassuring. The fleet of Beneteaus and Catalinas are incomparable to any others. I was thinking of buying a sailboat, but why? I'm proud to call Harbor Sailboats my home. read more

I have been a member for over 3 years, I had to cancel eventually because living in Denver and not being able to use my money worth just didn't make sense any more, I wish membership fees would rollover or accumulate for future rentals, it would be a win win for both club and members as well. read more

Completed another ASA class 103) at Harbor Sailboats and had the same great experience. Allan was our instructor and he is not only very knowledgeable but he loves what he does. We also rent boats there and the quality and condition of the boats is fantastic. The dock personnel are always helpful. I'm not sure why my first review regarding the previous ASA class was filtered by Yelp, but hopefully customers will see this one. I highly recommend their classes and their rentals. read more

We recently took the ASA sailing 101 lesson and had an amazing weekend! Nate was our instructor and he made our first attempts at sailing enjoyable and, at times, hilarious. He is in his element as a sailing instructor - so unflappable! I am on a Harbor Sailboat as I write this review, we feel confident by ourselves because we hear Nate's voice as questions come up. Thanks for a great sailing lesson and starting our new found love of sailing! read more

Great experience! Our captain , Fred, was great. The 28 foot sailboat was clean and modern.

It is a fine place for a class or for chartering a boat. However, they will not let you charter a boat if you find any part of your crew on social media. read more

This place is awful..... The owners do nothing to foster new members... it's not a CLUB.. they nickel and dime you for every little thing. Absolutely horrible people run this thing. We rented one time as non members when there were no boats available at our usual place. So overpriced. read more

Great club! I've been a member for over 12 years, and it is by far the best sailing club I've ever experienced. The fleet is constantly upgraded, and the boats are always well maintained. Even when I moved from San Diego, I maintained my membership, as the club also has reciprocity with other nice clubs. The fact that 100% of you membership is applied to sailing makes this the best deal no matter where you live. I've investigated joining other clubs, but Harbor Sailboats offers the Best in membership! Learn to sail and join this club! read more

Took 101 and 103 both with Steve . He is a great instructor ! Both patient and not condescending. The whole crew is incredibly welcoming and hard working. I have a momentous time every time I rent and learn from this crew. Thanks Steve and Bri you da best! read more

We chartered a sailboat with a captain for a day while on vacation. The boat was immaculate, and the captain was very professional and friendly. He let all three of our kids take the helm for extended periods (with close supervision). We had a terrific time, and would highly recommend Harbor Sailboats. If we have the opportunity we'll do this again! read more

Wonderful. 4 hour rental of a 28' Catalina with captain Joe was an experience the kids will always remember.

I researched and visited several sailboat rental/ sailing lesson/ charter companies in San Diego and picked Harbor Sailboats because of their extremely professional staff and exceptional equipment. I just completed my ASA 101 and was extremely impressed with our trainer. Steve was very knowledgeable, a great communicator and took his job very seriously yet made the 2 day course absolutely enjoyable - a true professional at what he does. I could not be more pleased with the training. read more

Me and the family (+ grandma) chartered a private sail this past Sat., Feb. 17 on the Lagoon 42 - our Captain was Aaron (sp?) - and it was a fantastic time. First and foremost after watching movies my entire life like Jaws, Titanic, Open Water, etc. etc. I have what you would call a slightly "un-natural" level of respect for the Ocean(s)... meaning that I'm hyper-aware that once you leave shore, we as humans are no longer at the top of the food chain. After asking an avalanche of safety / concern questions like, "when the boat goes down, how do the shark repellant canisters deploy - are they automatically triggered when they touch water or do you have to pull a pin like a grenade".... "how do the satellite phone / transponders notify the Coast Guard / U.S. Navy so they know where to deploy the helicopters and Cutters"..... it was pretty obvious that 1) Aaron knew what he was doing and 2) we were in good hands and I needed to ratchet my coffee-fueled morning crazy down a notch or three. After putting to bed my 'what if the worst of the worst happens' Q&A, Aaron's first question was - what do you and your family want to get out of this trip ? My kiddos are all about Ocean life / animals - so my response was: maximize the: whales, dolphins, sea lions, sharks, monster squid, etc. Aaron did a great job of not wasting any time and navigating us straight out to Whale Highway 1.... we saw an array of sea lions on the way in and out of the harbor - one actually swam right next to the boat and did barrel rolls for us !! We tracked and saw at least six or seven different whales with huge / multiple blow hole sprays as well as tail flips. The kids were ecstatic..... mission accomplished. As far as the boat, yeah..... the Lagoon 42 is just as awesome as the pictures. Super spacious, excellent condition, with all kinds of great space to stretch out, have lunch, get sun, etc. etc. etc. etc. Can't say enough good things about this trip, the boat - awesome, the marine life - awesome, the weather / sun / wind / temp. - awesome, and the Captain (Aaron) - awesome. I would absolutely do this again and would recommend a private charter to anyone looking to get away from the crowds and have control over their sail. I think the only thing that could have put this (even further) over the top is for the co. to package a better food / beverage option with the sail. On the advice of the booking agent, we dropped into the local deli just down the dock and picked up fresh sandwiches, drinks, etc. - but what would have been great is the kitchen on the boat to have all of this type of stuff on-board and ready for consumption. Like I said, AMAZING trip, would absolutely do it again - just would have been the icing on the cake if food / beverage was included / provided / option on the boat already. Six stars. read more

My husband and I took the ASA 101 (beginner) basic keelboat sailing class in December 2020. Our instructor Matt was terrific--very knowledgeable, approachable, funny, enthusiastic about sailing, and genuinely invested not only in our passing a 100-question test for the ASA credential, but also making sure we learned to operate safely while having fun. The 2-day weekend course gave us time to go out on the water 4 times, and Matt gave us lots of ideas about where to go on San Diego Bay within our skill level in the future. The class size was 4, including another nice couple who appeared to be experienced sailors, and we all took turns at the various positions on the sailboat. The class was excellent, although having no prior sailing experience at all, my husband and I will probably hire an instructor to guide us the first time or two when we take a boat out on our own in the future. Erica and Keenan in the office were terrific as well--they answered the phone AND answered all my questions when I called several times to prepare for the class, and Erica took the time to show us around the marina and dock when we stopped by for a look around. We're very happy we chose Harbor Sailboats and look forward to sailing as part of their sailing club in the new year, Covid or not. Cheers./// read more

Chartered a 28ft sailboat and hired a captain for an afternoon from Harbor Sailboats. It was great! I called in the morning for a reservation and they had a Captain there at 1pm. Captain Brett was amazing! The boat was ready when I arrived and he took the time throughout the sail to instruct me on basic sailing skills as it was my first time on a sailboat. I would highly recommend Harbor Sailboats and Capt. Brett! Thanks! read more