Captain John was great- we had an amazing time! He was so personable, it felt like you were sailing with a friend. He is also very experienced- we felt safe the entire time. We sailed over to Sausalito and next to the Golden Gate Bridge. It was the most perfect day- zero fog- blue sky & sunny day. We will absolutely sail with him again when we are back in town. read more

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Captain John is amazing. He did a great job giving us the tour and being interactive with us during the time. Loved it!

We had a great evening sail with John! The bay was beautiful even while a bit foggy, and John recommended a great route for the weather conditions. read more

This is the second time I sailed with Captain John. My group had a great time. John is professional, friendly and knowledgeable. I highly recommend his services. read more

We specifically picked this trip to have a memorial trip for scattering ashes. He didn't seem to know that when we arrived. Captain John was welcoming. We left a few minutes early for him to fill up the gas. We've never sailed so he put up the sails. Music was provided. Drinks were offered. Boat was comfortable and spotless. We sailed to bridge did ceremony and back to dock. Arrived back 30 min before end of time. I would have enjoyed using a little of the time to see the bay. Especially the sunny side over by Sausalito. Excellent knowledge, friendly and accommodating. Would select again. read more

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Captain John was fantastic, the boat was beautiful, and we caught the bay on an incredible day. We celebrated a birthday on the boat and it was the perfect activity for the occasion. Will definitely be chartering again! read more

My friends invited me on a sunset sail on "Temptation" this past weekend and it was a fantastic experience. Captain John picked us up at the dock near St Francis and took us on a beautiful (and exciting) trip under the Golden Gate Bridge. As the winds picked up, he maneuvered the boat with ease - no one spilled a drink (not easy even on solid ground!) and we even spotted a dolphin near Ft Point. On the way back in, we learned more about John's sailing life in San Francisco (spoiler alert: he's a local legend!). Pro-tip: John provided extra jackets for those of us who underestimated the chill factor and other essentials: beer, wine, water, and snacks. Definitely pack layers and keep your phone zipped in a safe spot--the winds and waves are unpredictable in the evenings, although you'll feel safe under John's care. Have fun!! read more

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Captain John is really great! Please respect the rules and you'll have a great time ! We went out on the bay and under the Golden Gate. Nice well piloted boat. Will repeat. read more

Chose to sail with Captain John for my birthday/fleet week this year. From the initial contact to ask questions and inevitably booking the cruise with Captain John's lovely (I can't underscore lovely enough!) wife Karen, to the actual cruise, the experience exceeded expectations! On the day of my birthday, we enjoyed a gorgeous sunset sail after the airshow ended. Captain John had an excellent playlist, was funny, kind, accommodating and extremely knowledgable not just about sailing but also about the bay! He took us out beyond the Golden Gate Bridge. Told us lots of cool tidbits about the bay and even took pictures of our whole krewe together and individually! I can assure you that not only is Captain John an excellent Sailor and DJ, but he's also a great photographer! I highly recommend sailing with Captain John for any occasion! Thanks Captain John and Karen! read more

Sailing San Francisco - Boating Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Booked Captain John for a sailing trip for Father's Day and had such a spectacular time! The boat is beautiful, clean, and spacious for the family! We brought our own picnic + drinks, which was really nice as well. Captain John also knew a great deal about SF history and was able to share a ton of information about a plethora of sailing/SF knowledge! We will 100% be booking with him in the future! read more

Went sailing with Captain John a few weeks ago and we had the best time! I highly recommend booking him if you want to spend a nice day, we were a party of six and were able to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday just among us! So much fun, thanks again Captain John! read more

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Our 6-person group had an amazing time sailing with Captain John Yelda last weekend! We had friends visiting from out of town and wanted to do something unique and fun, so we decided to go sailing. There are many options for sailing charters in the Bay Area, but Captain John came highly recommended from several of my co-workers who had chartered him in the past (for birthdays, special events, etc.). I reached out to him via email and ended up booking a 2-hour morning cruise. Captain John was very professional, responsive, and detail-oriented throughout the booking process and helping us prepare (what to wear, items to bring, etc.) for the day of the cruise. He's an excellent sailor with over 40 years of experience on the water (Bay Area and beyond), and he made us feel very safe throughout the cruise. He's very knowledgeable about the local geography, history, weather, etc., and provided us with plenty of interesting facts and stories as we sailed around the Bay and under the Golden Gate Bridge (a truly spectacular view from the water!!!). The boat is a gorgeous Catalina 350 which was clean and spacious, with plenty of room for all 6 of us to sit comfortably on the back deck and walk about freely around the front of the boat. It also has a large galley down below with a bathroom, kitchen, refrigerator, etc. The entire experience was amazing, and we popped open several bottles of Champagne while taking in the amazing views from the water. I highly recommend Captain John Yelda/Sailing San Francisco for your next sailing charter! read more

Sailing San Francisco - Amazing morning cruise under the Golden Gate. - Boating Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Can't wait to do this again!!! Highly recommend!!! Our sailing was private and not in years would I have thought I would have done this! read more

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Had a lovely day out on the Bay with friends this July! The booking process was easy and we all had a wonderful time. read more

Sailing San Francisco - Boating Near Me - San Francisco, California

Sailing with Captain John is my FAVORITE experience. I have now sailed with him multiple times when various friends have come to visit and I would go again 100 more times! You are able to bring your own drinks and enjoy the views on a beautiful sailboat. Not only does he take you to the BEST parts of the bay (we have seen dolphins and sea lions EVERY time) but he is an expert sailor and I have never been seasick (and normally I am). He is also incredibly reasonably priced which allows us to enjoy it even more! He is so kind and even sailed by where we were having brunch after our sail to take pictures for our party from the water. Sailing with captain John is the best and I recommend him to EVERYONE! read more

Sailing San Francisco - Morning sail views - Boating Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Captain John is amazing! He provided thorough instructions prior to our trip and was so accommodating and chill. We did a 2 hr sail with 6 of us to Sausalito (weather to the GGB wasn't as nice). I would highly recommend him to anyone who wants to check off a sail experience on their bucket list! Perfect for people visiting out of town, birthdays, anything! Thanks, John! read more

Perfect way to spend a day in San Francisco. Captain John was extremely knowledgeable of the bay and we had a great time seeing intimate views of places like Alcatraz and Angel Island along with sightings of dolphins and seals. Would highly recommend this 4 hr charter. read more

We had a fantastic experience sailing with Captain John, a special and exclusive outing on our honeymoon. Not only was the boat stunning and the ride smooth and enjoyable, Captain's John's company was wonderful. As tourists, he was able to offer us great recommendations in the area for food and knew a lot of "fun facts" about the city. We are looking forward to another trip out with him when we return to SF! read more

We had a perfect 2 hour cruise around the bay. Captain John was helpful and even offered to take photos for us. He seemed very knowledgeable, and we would definitely book him again. read more

My wife and I enjoyed our 19th Anniversary aboard Captain John's Temptation and we can highly recommend the experience. John is very professional and skilled sailor. Departing from Golden Gate Yacht Club is a BIG plus as easy to find and park (free!). Temptation is very well maintained and John guides her with ease. Overall a great experience and one that we will repeat with friends sometime soon. We can highly recommend!! read more

Amazing experience with Captain John. Proposed to my girlfriend under the Golden Gate Bridge and he helped plan it without her having any idea. Would give 10 stars if possible, beautiful boat as well. read more

Sailing San Francisco - Boating Near Me - San Francisco, California

Captain John was very accommodating and we had a great time on the water with him!

Captain John was great. All the instructions on where to meet and what to bring were very clear. We had a wonderful couple hours sailing over to Sausalito. Overall 10/10. Thank you! read more

Stunning Sunset Sail with Captain John! Leaving Golden Gate Yacht Club we soon went under the Golden Gate Bridge and even spotted some porpoises cruising toward Baker Beach. The return journey with the sun setting behind the Golden Gate Bridge was incredible. Amazing photo opportunities. Views were stunning in all directions. It had been my mother's dream to sail under the bridge. A great outing and bonding experience with the grandchildren! read more

Sailing San Francisco - Boating Near Me - San Francisco, California

Absolutely fantastic time! John is so thoughtful and polite, and he knows all the best places to go. read more

Sailing San Francisco - Under the bridge - Boating Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Most incredible birthday celebration yet! Fog started to settle in on the Golden Gate, Cpt. John really hoped we could make it before it settled, however, we didn't make it. But, we did get a glimpse of it through the fog, still beautiful. We made a detour to the AT&T park and watched part of the Giants game, it was amazing to watch it from McCovey Cove! He went in circles and kept saying, "Ok! right now! Take the picture!" he was so helpful in letting us have the best shots possible! Cpt. John also was so easy to talk to, he joked around and we had a diverse conversation from the iPhone 5 to digital cameras, and even his history working for the US coast guard and being an engineer. He is very professional, and made my friends and I feel more than comfortable. Always attentive and very knowledgeable. We all had the best time, and now we all wish we could own a boat...until then, we will be seeing Cpt. John a few more times ;) read more

Sailing San Francisco - Captain John suggested this move, you can't tell, but i'm holding on for dear life ;). Best. Shot. Ever. Thanks, Cap! - Boating Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Ahoy all! We had the most amazing day of sailing with Captain John. He is a master of sailing, has the best music playing and was very hospitable host to us throughout the trip. It's rare to find someone who enjoys their job as much as John does. And I was curious if he really delivered so consistently as the reviews here share. Well, yup! 5 star experience! You can tell John enjoys meeting new people and his sailing skills are the best. He helped point out seals, dolphins and even a shark. He shared some history about Alcatraz and Angel Island as well. If you want a special event to share with your loved one(s)- this is the one to go for. So worth it! We hope to be back for more this Fall. Jeannie :) read more

Sailing San Francisco - Summer time Sailing! - Boating Near Me - San Francisco, California

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My boyfriend brought me to the Temptation ship as a surprise birthday gift! I was not only surprised by the ship itself, but also the kind hospitality John showed upon entering his ship. The ship was docked at a convenient spot in the Marina. It was clean and John was the utmost professional - not to mention he has a great sense of humor and is very knowledgeable about all the romantic spots in the bay area! The weather wasn't the best for sailing - beyond Captain John's control - but he was gracious enough to offer up jackets, beanies, gloves, bourbon... I took him up on the bourbon offer. Nothing like taking shots at 2pm to try to stay warm! Thanks for the great birthday memory! read more

Sailing San Francisco - Boating Near Me - San Francisco, California

Amazing!!! One of the best 2 hours of our lives...honestly. Read on... Captain John & his boat provided our group with the one of the most memorable experiences ever! We chartered his boat to celebrate one of our friend's birthday's on a gorgeous Friday night. Champagne* + cupcakes + sunset = perfect! Not to mention how experienced Captain John truly is. He made us all feel at ease & even let us steer the yacht at times ;-) He is EXPERIENCED, PROFESSIONAL and also super FUN! We couldn't have asked for more gorgeous weather. (NOTE-it does get windy & chilly in the evening so be sure to bring warm layers for the return ride, including hats, gloves & scarves. Captain John does provide jackets & blankets which is awesome. Another NOTE: bring socks & wear the boat shoes that Captain John provides! We just wore socks and found it too slippery. Depending on the time of day & the winds, we found our sunset cruise under the Golden Gate & over to Sausalito to be a great adventure! *When bringing your own libations a few things to consider: do not suggest bringing red wine--chance of spillage is pretty high & don't bring plastic wine gasses (keg cups/red cups are sufficient!) Thank you Captain John for making Nicole's Birthday so fabulous. We can't to book our next adventure with you soon! read more

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My family LOVED our sail boat trip under the Golden Gate Bridge! It was a busy, hotter than usual kind of day, but John was most informative and accommodating! Karen also made sure we had everything we needed before embarking. We got excellent pictures, and we felt very safe. It was nice to get a breath of fresh air since being in quarantine for so long! Thanks to John and Karen. Highly recommend. read more

Sailing San Francisco - Golden Gate in the background - Boating Near Me - San Francisco, California

We had an excellent time with John. When we made our appointment with John he was very helpful in explaining what to expect, what to bring, things to note, etc. so that we would come prepared for our sailing trip. Once on the boat, John was a wonderful guide, giving us explanations about his Catalina, regaling us with great stories about his experiences with different clients, and overall just made us really comfortable sailing with him... we felt like he was a member of our group and not just "the guide." You can also tell John is very passionate about sailing and extremely detail-oriented: the Catalina was super-clean and in great condition. The ship is beautiful. Finally, John was more than willing to take us to various locations - we passed by Angel Island, Tiburon, and finished with a run-by of the Golden Gate Bridge. We definitely didn't feel like John was "watching the clock" or feel pressured in any way to wrap up our 3-hour trip. In fact, we ran about 30 min. over our allotted time, and John was more than happy to oblige. Highly recommend John's charter if you want an authentic sailing experience! read more

Sailing San Francisco - Boating Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Let me start off by saying that sailing in the Bay is a great way to see the city, the Golden Gate Bridge, and a fun experience for people of any age. I would not recommend this company. I was a little worried after reading other reviews regarding the owner's attitude and treatment of his customers, and they were 100% true. While we had a nice experience on the water, saw whales and dolphins, and went under the bridge, the owner was totally rude, crotchety, and made us feel uncomfortable during the trip. He has a rule for "no hip hop or rap", is strict about food/drinks, and seems OCD about keeping his boat exactly the way he wants (maybe he shouldn't have other people on it!). He was also complaining at the end of our trip that the next party showed up early for their appointment. If I were to do it again, I'd definitely look for other sailing companies. read more

We were lucky to book John for a team offsite. The 5 of us had an amazing time, and John is a total pro. He shared a lot of cool facts about the area's history, and also gave us space to chat amongst ourselves. Over 10/10 experience. read more

Safe fun sweet... Highly recommended. We went out for a birthday cruise at sunset. It's a perfect experience. read more

Sailing San Francisco - Birthday friends - Boating Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Best way to sail SF bay... Captain John is a superhero. His boats and routes are the best and it's the only way to see the bay the way of a super local! 5 stars read more

We have sailed with Captain John 4+ times and look forward to many more sailing trips with him. He is professional, has a clean boat, and lets you bring your own food/drink for a memorable experience on the water! As a retired coast guard, I felt super safe with him and he is very knowledgeable on the water and about San Francisco in general. Thanks Captain John! See you again this summer! read more

Just returned from an amazing sunset sail with Captain John and my fiends. John was knowledgeable and safe and even took to us to a secret to see whales in the bay! I can't recommend his charter services enough. Great experience and my friends loved the evening and his music selection. Thanks captain John!! read more

Captain John is amazing. He handles the boat perfectly and makes everyone comfortable. He has jokes if you want them, facts about the sights if you want them, and a great soundtrack if you want that. He even had a jacket for our son who forgot his. San Francisco is so beautiful. We went under the Golden Gate Bridge and out near a beach and saw all kinds of wild life. It was great! You really haven't seen San Francisco unless you've gotten sailing with Captain John! read more

We had a wonderful time sailing on Easter morning! Captain John was very friendly and kept us very entertained throughout our trip. We had amazing weather. We sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge and all around the bay. We'd do it again in a heartbeat! We highly recommend booking with Captain John! read more

First off this was my me and my wife's first time sailing in the bay. We had an absolute fabulous time with our two great friends and also Captain John! I went ahead and looked at the "bad" reviews that were here and I would like the opportunity to debunk them. First off, the captains main concern is the safety of the people on his boat. If that means he has to ask that you don't step somewhere or move somewhere else, it's because he doesn't want to have to fish you out of the freezing water that typically surrounds a BOAT. Second, this is a sail boat not a party barge. If you want to be obnoxious and bring you dance music, beer pong and dancing there are plenty of companies that provide that service. If you want a great experience with a very qualified sail boat captain, I highly recommend Captain John. Thank you for the unforgettable experience Captain John!!! read more