St. Augustine Sailing

One of the most beautiful ways to enjoy St.Augustine is from the water, and nothing beats moving along under the power of the wind, watching the seabirds glide and dive, and listening for that "p-puff" that announces dolphins playing or feeding nearby.

St. Augustine Sailing Charters leave from Camachee Cove Yacht Harbor, a premier marina on the inland side of the Vilano Bridge. The charters offer unique sailing experiences perfect for small groups, private parties, intimate events, or a getaway for two.

St. Augustine Sailing's premium charters start with two hours on the water and can include full-day or even overnight charters. Guests may sail on the local rivers, the Intracoastal Waterway, or the Atlantic Ocean.

Every charter is captained by an experienced and knowledgeable U.S. Coast Guard licensed captain.

An Introduction to Sailing

St. Augustine Sailing is owned by well-known and highly acclaimed A.S.A. Sailing Instructor, Rose Ann Points. Rose Ann and her team enjoy turning adventurers into sailors. St. Augustine Sailing offers several affordable charters that provide an introduction to sailing — and that make excellent gifts. Some are fully hands-on, others let the guests relax in affordable luxury, and all trips can whet a guest's appetite for more time on the water -- in a sailboat.

• Intro to Sailing offers two to four people the opportunity to learn (or brush up on) the basics  — including sail handling, steering, and finding the wind. They use 21 or 22-foot Hunters sailboats, sturdy sloops that offer a comfortable cockpit and the chance to handle the two most common sails, a main and a jib. Intro to Sailing can be booked here. 
• Learn the Ropes sets out in a larger boat, a beautiful 349 Jeanneau, and the crew/instructors provide more detailed instruction. Before leaving the dock, they will discuss what each person wants to learn so that the lesson can address novice issues and concerns. Learn the Ropes can be booked here.

St. Augustine Sailing's Captained Charter Options

• Charters can be booked for daytime or evening sails.
• Affordable Luxury, St. Augustine Sailing's Sip N Sail can last one or two hours and includes a wine tasting with two to six passengers on board. Two or more bottles of wine will be available for sipping as the boat sails along St. Augustine's shore on trips that can be scheduled for morning, afternoon, or evening. One-hour cruises and two-hour cruises can be booked here. All must be 18 or older. 
• Private charters for two offer romance on the water for a date night (or perhaps a surprise proposal).
• Private charters offer views of natural areas along the Intracoastal Waterway or the open ocean. Ocean sails have a minimum of three hours.
• Themed sailing parties are available to celebrate a birthday, bachelor or bachelorette weekend, or other special events.
• Corporate charters are used for team building or to reward a team for reaching their goal.
• Seasonally, St. Augustine Sailing offers special sailing cruises, including multiple packages for the Nights of Lights season.

Every charter can be customized to include a wine tasting with St. Augustine Sailing's sommelier, a luxurious four-course dinner with an onboard chef, or a decadent dessert sail. Every team member at St. Augustine Sailing strives to provide each guest with a premier on-the-water sailing charter experience.

Land and Sea Tours

St. Augustine Sailing has teamed up with St. Augustine Experiences, so visitors can see and taste the best of St. Augustine in one tour that includes a walking tour of historic downtown — featuring some of the area's favorite foodie places — and a two-hour cruise aboard one of St. Augustine Sailing's luxury yachts. Visitors may choose from three options.

Go here to learn more and make reservations for one of these Land and Sea tours.

Themed Sailing Cruises, Available Year-Round

St. Augustine Sailing currently offers a brunch cruise on any day of the week. The cruise includes mimosas and brunch tidbits while sailing on a 35-foot monohull. Shared and private cruises are available. Go here to book a brunch cruise.

Make sure you check out their seasonal cruises. St. Augustine Sailing offers special trips for each special time of the year.

A.S.A. Sailing Lessons

St. Augustine Sailing, an American Sailing Association (A.S.A.) teaching center, offers classes for beginners and for more experienced sailors. Visitors who choose to include a day or two of sailing instruction in their itinerary will have a unique vacation and set themselves up for a lifetime of fun on the water. Many visitors come to St. Augustine to enjoy an outstanding sailing course and have fun in the city when the classes end. 

St. Augustine Sailing provides basic sailing instruction for those who want to have the skills to crew for friends or in a local race. Classes are taught on forgiving, but responsive 21 and 22-foot open sailboats, that are perfect for learning boat handling.

Additional classes on larger sloops offer more in-depth instruction for basic coastal cruising and basic bareboat chartering. Those who attain the highest level A.S.A. certificate can become certified bareboat skippers who can confidently take a boat on a week's cruise, having learned the basics of navigating, provisioning, sailing off-shore, anchoring, and docking. St. Augustine Sailing also offers a class for those who want to know the intricacies of sailing a catamaran.

St. Augustine Sailing's A.S.A. sailing lessons are limited to only four students per boat, so each can practice every skill.

SailTime Membership

Sailors with experience who want to captain a vessel on their own — without the hassle of owning a boat — will find that a SailTime Membership will get them out on the water in a new yacht on a schedule that works for them. SailTime members pay a monthly fee, schedule their chosen boat online, sail, clean it, and walk away until the next time. The St. Augustine Sailing team is happy to discuss SailTime Membership options.

Yacht Sales

All Points Yacht Sales, the sales division of St. Augustine Sailing, brokers high-quality sail and powerboats in Northeast and Central Florida. Their office at Camachee Yacht Harbor is at 3074 Harbor Drive, next to the Vilano Bridge.

Other Sailing Adventures

To learn more about their premier sailing adventures, including their fleet of boats and their experienced crew, visit St. Augustine Sailing's website.

• The "Sweet and Salty" cruise starts downtown in the morning, focusing on some of the many sweet tidbits found in St. Augustine. Later, guests hop aboard a luxury sailboat and enjoy the salty breezes, wine, and beer while sailing on the Matanzas.
• "Sails and Ales" starts with a two-hour cruise during which local brews and fun cocktails are served. The land portion of the tour will visit historic sites, brew pubs, and taprooms.
• "Surf and Turf" starts on board a beautiful sailboat in the morning, with lite bites, mimosas, and a two-hour cruise. After, a tour of the Historic District includes stops at three of St. Augustine's favorite places to relax over wine, cocktails, and various charcuterie boards.
• Get married on a boat in the river or on the dock.

St. Augustine Sailing also offers yacht brokerage services for people who want to buy or sell a boat.