My wife and I have been sailing a few years on lakes in 25 footers and wanted to get out on some…read morebigger waters and on bigger boats. We also wanted formal training and certifications and we found this place online. We also thought seeing Virginia and the east coast a bit would have been a great time for my wife Brittany's birthday. So we flew to Virginia's SailTime courses instead of one of the the ones in our own state. We flew from California and I spoke with Connie and she was kind enough to let us stay on a 41 ft yacht (Adiona, a 41 ft Jenneua) for our stay in Virginia which saved us about half a grand on hotels. When we landed a lady named Brooke made sure we were comfortable and had everything we needed. When we got on board to unpack there was even a note waiting for us that said happy birthday. Brooke was a sweetheart for sure and we felt like family by the time we had set our bags down. She made sure of it. We met our captain the next morning. A man named Jim Lant who took us through our 101, 103 and 104 courses over the next 6 days. We had a GREAT time and I honestly didn't want to leave when we finished up our last tests. Those six days we sailed every day and every place we sailed too seemed to have friendly people there who all knew each other and our captain Jim. The first ocean sail my wife and I ever did together was from Norfolk to cape Charles and that's pretty cool. Well miss the people and sailing for sure! Everyone who loves sailing should come here and meet Connie, Jim and Brooke. You won't regret it and we won't ever forget it. Jim is the BEST captain.

We went on a 3 hour sail from 9-12 on July 14, 2018. It was my husband and I and our 4 children…read moreages 6-15. This was truly an exceptional experience for all of us. Captain Jim was absolutely amazing. He was so patient and did such a fantastic job of teaching us about sailing and he allowed all of us to take part in one way or another. He was so good at including everyone and making sure each person received direct guidance from him. It's generally really hard to find activities that all 6 of us enjoy due to the age range but this turned out to be an absolutely perfect day. I would highly recommend Sailtime if you are thinking of trying this adventure! Working with them on scheduling was so easy and smooth as well. Be warned, you will want a sail boat afterward.....

Captain Rob and Tommy were amazing! We had such a great time on their boat. What a way to bring in…read more30 for my best friend! 10 out of 10 definitely recommend!!

From the owner: Come sailing with 757 Sailing Charters. Experience the waterways of Hampton Roads and Chesapeake…read moreBay from a 36.5 foot sailboat. We provide 2 or 3 hour day time and sunset sailing charters in Hampton Roads and Lower Chesapeake Bay for up to 6 people.

We booked a 7.30 till 9.30 sunset criuse during Harborfest, an annual festival on the waterfront…read more We boarded at 7ish with maybe 30 to 40 other folks so it was not crowded on the boat and we had our choice of seats, nice chairs with backs and arm rests. The crew were very friendly. Especially Connor and Lauren, the bartender. There was a bar with snack concessions for purchase. The cruise began at 7.30 out into the harbor with narration by the captain of the history of the harbor, the various ships docked in the harbor and the many shipyards. We saw dolphins playing in the water and were able to see the festival attendees, vendors and hear the music from the shore. There was a musician on board who walked around playing guitar and singing after the narration. We would have preferred more history to the music but he was entertaining. They raised the sails once we got off the shore and that was cool. We were able to stay on the ship after docking to enjoy the drone show that was part of the Harborfest activities, which was impressive but also disappointing in that it only lasted a few minutes, maybe 5 at tops. But overall it was a great cruise, nice ship that was clean and well ran. The deck underneath was also very nice with cool furnishings and is where the bar and bathrooms were located.

Absolutely amazing experience from check in to deboarding. The captain was knowledgeable and…read morefriendly along with the staff. My friend and I had an amazing time!! Well worth the price!

What a beautiful club that is so much nicer than many clubs around the country. They let me in but…read morethey did vet me first. Had a couple beers and met the Cherry family. They were super charming. Ran into Mr Johnstone of J boats fame. Great conversation. Good beer. Good service. Beautiful views with the giant windows. And it appears that they support some major sailing events which is a huge plus in my book.

Well maintained private member club off of Hampton Blvd in Norfolk. Indoor and outdoor amenities…read moreinclude multiple pools, tennis courts, corn hole boards, workout facility, boating docks, adult beverage bar, counter service cafe with HDTV and seating, foosball table plus more. There's an entire building that's the perfect private event venue - weddings, reunions, galas and graduation parties. Crowds are common at the beginning of Summer and seasonal events, creating a domino effect on your overall experience - less available parking, less poolside space/seating, longer lines for bar and food service. The Niçoise salad I had yesterday was ok but nowhere near as good as the fresh ahi tuna steak in sesame glaze I had last August.

A group of eight of us enjoyed a fun and relaxing lunch cruise on the Spirit of Norfolk. The buffet…read morelunch was good and plentiful. It included three types of salads, rolls with butter, chicken, pulled pork, and salmon entrees, potatoes, Mac and Cheese, plantains, squash, and street corn. Plus a large selection of desserts. Iced tea and water came with the meal too. They also have a full bar and reasonable prices for beer and wine. Service is cheerful and efficient. The entire crew was accommodating and helpful. After lunch, you can go out on their decks and enjoy the view or stay inside to dance to tunes played by a DJ. Tip and tax is included on the cruise fee, though not on the separate drinks you order on board. They'll serve you drinks at your table or on the outside decks. We boarded at 11:30 am, and the buffet opened around that time too. We then sail shortly after 12 pm. We disembarked at 2 pm. Parking is available a block away in the Town Point Garage. I believe they usually have handicap parking close to the ship, but that area was occupied by a festival when we were there. They give a military discount. Sometimes you'll see a discount on their website too.

Enjoyable cruise to see ships and the harbor and river…read more On the boat you can grab snacks and hot dogs and beverages. The staff are friendly.

Best spot for seafood for years. Fresh off the boat every day. The best view of any other place.read more

As a new tourist to Virginia Beach, I scanned the Internet for some great, fresh, informal local…read moreseafood, simply prepared and reasonably priced. I ended up at Dockside, and man, was I glad I did! First, they offer waterside outside seating, lots of free parking, and $18 specials if you get here before 5pm. The offer some spectacular shrimp, super fresh flounder, and better-than- average crab cakes. Coleslaw was very good. Service is prompt, friendly and knowledgeable. I found out that Chowhound recently rated the best restaurants for fried seafood in each state, and Dockside earned the best in Virginia, and well deserved IMHO.

Huge thank you to Lauren with our Norfolk harbor cruise team today!…read more We left over TWO HOURS early and still got caught in unbelievable traffic, construction, and a completely full parking lot. By the time we called, we truly thought we had missed the boat (literally and figuratively). Lauren went above and beyond to contact the crew and help us. She also helped us find a second parking lot when the designated lot was full. Because of her kindness and professionalism, they waited for us and we were able to experience an absolutely incredible cruise today. Customer service like that matters. Thank you for turning a stressful morning into wonderful family memories. . All this before we met the crew who patiently waited for us at the dock. They were gracious as they welcomed us aboard. The two hours were filled with so much detail on not only the ships we were looking at, but the buildings we were looking at and their history. The captain filled in with interesting bits of trivia about the harbor, the rivers that run into the Chesapeake Bay and facts of some piers and docks that had historical significance. The boat has an upper deck if you want to sit in the open. For those who prefer a little less adventure, you can sit inside the lower area that is fully enclosed. There is a small drink and snack bar where you can purchase drinks and packaged snacks. They have souvenir t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats and other small items for purchase. Highly recommend this cruise. You will not be disappointed in the cruise or the customer service.

Captain and his crew were great! Captain offered an informative narrative the entire cruise. Boat…read morewas clean and well kept. Boat was equipped with bathrooms (with child changing table), souvenirs and snacks and beverages including beer and wine. Definitely recommend for an upclose look at the fleet at Norfolk Naval Station.

Stopped at a Bluewater while delivering a 42' Yellowfin from Edgartown, MA to West Palm, Beach FL…read more This particular Bluewater Yacht Yard, is an absolutely gorgeous facility; with plenty of helpful staff standing by & ready to assist with tying up, topping of our fuel tanks and grabbing a quick bite to eat. The fuel dock is massive with plenty of gas & diesel fuel pumps to accommodate (more then a few of) even the biggest of motor yachts. The slips were all floating docks w/ 2, to 4 fixed (composite) pilings with appropriately sized (working) power & water hookups at each. The entire property was pristine, as were the majority of the boats occupying each of the slips onsite. In short, I would highly recommend Bluewater Yacht Yards to any visiting yachtsmen, or transient boater seeking an upscale marina to call home for a night or two!!

UPDATE: June 2018…read more After a string of positive experiences (including several I have not written about) this visit was a crushing disappointment. Support on the docks and management both fell through. Perhaps they need more adult supervision on the weekend. For context I am a delivery skipper who often sails owner-aboard, training, and insurance check-off trips. I'm on and off a lot of docks. My expectations of dock hands are pretty low. We came in from offshore with a general reservation confirmed and specified a day ahead when we got back in range of cell service. Bluewater decided to put us at the West end of their fuel dock overnight and then move us in the morning when another boat left. Fine. On arrival the dockhands were inept. Not just one of them. Three. They had absolutely no clue whatsoever about springing onto a dock. While being blown off we (owner being trained) got a breast line to the dock hand and asked for a couple of turns around a cleat so we could pull against the line and snug in. The young lady stood on the dock looking at us and said "I've got it." Nope. You don't, not unless you want 1. to let go, 2. rope burns, or 3. to go swimming. It took forever to convince her to put a turn around the cleat. Even then she left a LOT of slack in the line. Note the whole time the owner is juggling his new-to-him boat while being blown off the dock. Finally the line was cleated (which is NOT the same as a turn around the cleat with no slack and stand by). *sigh* We ended up 50 feet from where we wanted to be. Simply not okay. As usual with dockhands the focus on the bow line meant the bow pulled in and a lot of adjustment on our part after struggling to put competent crew on the dock. We ASKED if they wanted us to move the boat back to the far western end of the dock so we wouldn't be in the way overnight. We were told we were fine. Minutes later they told us to move to the face dock inside between D2 and D3 (see http://www.bluewateryachtcenter.com/marina). Once again the issues with poor line handling by dock hands and no--absolutely no--concept of springing. We had perhaps 15 feet of margin, combined, between the front and back of the boat. The owner could not possibly have done it alone. With the inept dock support *I* would have had trouble. We get in and settled and they refuse to move shore power cords from other boats so we can plug in. Only one available 50A extension so we get to choose between A/C and power for batteries, fridge, etc. Lovely. Welcome to Hampton. Then we are told we'll be moving again. In the morning. By which time we expect to be in (four crew) NOVA, FL, and MD. Thanks just tons. Oh - to add insult to injury the slip they want to move us to is the one they were going to move us to from the fuel dock. Just leave us on the fuel dock where the owner can get off and move to the final slip where the owner can get in . This was not a simple mistake. It was a cascade of poor performance and bad management. One (1) star, rounded up to three (3) only because of past experience. Very disappointed. Without some assurance of training for dockhands and better planning for slips Bluewater goes in the category of dropping competent crew on the dock and shooing the dock hands away as hazards to navigation as they are in so many places. Facilities: A+ On-site restaurant: A Overall condition: A Total Experience: D- GM Dave: If you want a positive curriculum for dock hand training let me know. I'll write one up for you. Free. I like you guys and want you to succeed. UPDATE: March 2017 On another delivery this time entering the Chesapeake we limped in under tow after a cascade of failures. The team at Bluewater Yachting Center were great. The details are complicated but we were cold--really cold--on a boat with little to no maneuverability of its own. Advance phone calls and coordination when the tow picked us up had Bluewater ready for us and boy were they ready. There were at least four people on the dock waiting for us. Everyone was very solicitous. I usually tie up myself but under the circumstances I was grateful for the help. The warm shower, the nice meal at Surf Rider, and the response to every request with either "yes" or "let's see what we can do" where a great relief. All of my inbound and outbound deliveries will include a stop at Bluewater Yachting Center. We have to press up fuel and water - why not do it somewhere that so greatly values our presence? Tell 'em I sent you. ORIGINAL: We were here in January 2017 waiting for a weather window to head offshore. Service was exemplary. Cheerful staff run hundreds of feet of hose to let us fill water, took care of fuel needs, and were generally helpful in every possible way. The onsite restaurant is very pleasant although the menu is heavily tilted to fried foods. I used to head offshore from Little Creek but with the decline in the Vinings marinas there Bluewater Sailing Center is an easy choice. Recommended.

Highly recommend! We had an amazing private sunset cruise with Native Island Sailing. Our family…read moregroup of 7 loved every minute--beautiful views, a smooth, quiet solar powered electric boat, and a great price (less than individually pay for a public boat tour!). Captain Brian was the perfect guide: relaxed, friendly, and full of local knowledge when asked. The coastline is stunning and full of stories--just ask. An unforgettable experience!

From the owner: **For booking and questions contact us directly via website nativeislandsailing.com, email…read moreinfo@nativeislandsailing.com, or by calling us at 757-751-0730. Now booking for Summer 2023! For more information about our charters and for frequently asked questions, please visit nativeislandsailing.com Native Island Sailing offers sailing charters on the Chesapeake Bay for special occasions and small groups. Our charters are on Ellen Ripley, a 38-ft sailing catamaran, the first zero-emissions, all-electric, powered by 100% renewable energy charter in Hampton Roads. Powered by nature. Departs daily out of Hampton, Virginia.

Big Difference since they changed management. friendly,…read moregreat service & its a much better experience dealing with the new staff and they have much less turnover than before some upgrades could be made but I'm sure that would raise the fees

An older, but fairly well maintained, full-service storage and transit marina, located at the end…read moreof Sunset Creek, a tributary of the Hampton River. The facility's main business is dry storage for power boats up to about 40 feet, but they also handle daily or extended in- or out-of-water stays from transient boaters, and those local boat owners wishing to perform maintenance on their boats, both sail and power, up to about 60 feet. The marina has all the normal amenities, including both gasoline and diesel fuel, a very nice Ship's Store, a selection of bait and tackle for fisherman, on-site mechanical and rigging service personnel, bottom cleaning and painting capabilities, fiberglass repair services, and full electrical and water services for both in-water and landside slips. Short or long-term storage contracts are available, and range from one-day visits to yearly dry storage contracts with provisions for on demand in-and-out-of-the- water hauling included. Sunset is located in a fairly quiet part of Hampton, and is a short walk or tender ride up the Creek to the center of the city and all the commercial action, hotels and restaurants. But, aside from the peacefulness of the place, one of the benefits of its location is that prices here are a bit lower than at those spots further up the Creek and closer to Downtown. And, for whatever reason, the folks that frequent Sunset seem a bit less plastic than those at the more "sophisticated" marinas at the head of the Creek. And whether that's good or bad, of course, is entirely up to you.