Every cruise is different—it’s your charter—but we have a few favorite itineraries if you don't want to make any decisions: 

Heart of the Bay: The best shot to get under the Golden Gate Bridge (peacefully) is to start mid-morning, before the wind comes up. We begin at the dock with a bottle of sparkling wine, the start of our day-long wine flight. After brunch we motor along the San Francisco waterfront, under the Golden Gate, and raise sail. We sail by Sausalito, Belvedere, and Tiburon and get into the sauvignon blancs, chardonnays, and maybe a pinot noir, all served with artisan breads and cheeses. Dock space permitting, we can tie up at Sam’s for a stroll around Tiburon, or tie up at Angel Island for a walk in the state park or a picnic on the lawn. The east side of Angel Island is usually the warmest, calmest place on the Bay, where we fire up the barbeque and drink some of our heavier reds. From Angel Island, it’s a spirited sail back across the Bay to San Francisco, where guests can depart. This itinerary usually takes 5-7 hours. $1200 for up to six people, $50 discount for each person fewer than six. 30% advance deposit required at time of contract.

Petaluma River:  Thirty-five miles from San Francisco by sea, Petaluma is among California's oldest cities with one of the best-preserved historic downtown areas on the National Register of Historic Places. The Petaluma River is one of the prettiest stretches of California waterfront, and holds some of California’s best-preserved tidal wetlands. There is one winery, Keller Estate, which has its own dock along the river, and can be visited by boat. Since it takes 5-6 hours of sailing between San Francisco and Petaluma, guests may prefer to go one way by sail, then continue or return by ground transportation. All the food and wine from the Heart of the Bay itinerary is included, but on this voyage we need to cover some miles! On a round trip voyage, four guests may stay aboard Condesa for the night at the Petaluma Town Basin, at no additional charge, or may choose to stay in a hotel. $2200 round trip (2 days), $1400 one-way, for up to six passengers, discounts for fewer than six.

Napa River: If you’re planning to travel from San Francisco to the Napa Valley, or the reverse, this is how to make the trip in style. This is a long haul at 55 miles (about 8 hours) where you’ll see the heart of San Francisco Bay, San Pablo Bay, and of course the Napa River, which runs through the Carneros winegrowing region. Along the Napa River are two pick-up/drop-off points, the Napa Valley Marina, and the Napa Valley Yacht Club. The Napa Valley Marina, in the heart of Carneros, has several wineries nearby, which are open for tastings. The Napa Valley Yacht Club, accessible only at high tide, is just a 4-block walk from downtown Napa. $2400 round trip (2 days), $1600 one way, up to six passengers, discounts for fewer than six.

Special Events: Of course a yacht is the best way to attend certain events such as Fleet Week (usually in October) and the America’s Cup (coming in 2013). Condesa can anchor in McCovey Cove, next to AT&T Park, so you can enjoy Wine By Sail luxury next to the Giants game. While you can’t see the field, we can listen on the radio, and we might catch the odd Splash Hit.