“I go on a lot of captained sails and this hands down the best I have EVER been on. Amazing boat, friendly, knowledge and relaxed captain.. we even got to sail the boat. We saw dolphins, sea otters, and sea lions! I would book this experience any time I visit the Big Sur area. One of the best (and windiest) sails of my life. I had so much fun and knew I was in the best hands with Kevin!”

— Kelly T., Benicia, CA

An unbelievable way to experience Monterey Bay for an afternoon! Sail with a true professional Captain who will take you on an adventure on the most beautiful boat in Monterey. See wildlife, enjoy the water, and sail in style!

For those looking for a more intense sailing experience, the offshore trips are also unreal. I did the Monterey to San Francisco trip and hope to do another soon. Learn from seasoned sailors, gain offshore experience, and have plenty of fun along the way.

Highly recommend Shearwater Sailing to anyone looking for a great day on the water and experienced sailors too!

Chris C., Monterey, CA

“Really, if I could give this review a hundred stars I would. One of the most amazing experiences that we are going to cherish for the rest of our lives. We honestly will never forget this. Don't hesitate to have this excursion. You will not be disappointed!”

Annie N., Chico, CA

This was an amazing day. All the way from our first interaction of booking our journey until we climbed off the sailboat, Kevin was an absolute professional. The boat is impeccable, the captain was well experienced and very hospitable which made for a great sailing experience off the coast of California. I would highly recommend Shearwater Sailing and will be booking again the next time I am in Monterey!

Kathy B., Houston, TX

Captain Kevin and first mate Lily were outstanding getting the six of us oriented for our day cruise. The boat is well fitted out, very clean and orderly. We sailed right to where a humpback was repeatedly whacking his tail hard on the surface. None of us had seen anything like that before. We also saw a huge pod of seals feeding out in the bay. The boat handles really well, Captain let me steer for awhile, a great day on the bay. I highly recommend you try this experience.

David C., San Francisco, CA

“I joined the crew from San Francisco to Monterey. It was my first offshore experience. Out of the gate, it went from excitement, to intimidating, to being put at ease by the professionalism and meticulous safety of Kevin and the rest of the great crew! What an incredible day & experience! Atalanta is a beautiful fast 53' Farr. I hope to go again.”

Alisa D., Folsom, CA

“Sailing with Kevin was magical. The boat is beautiful and immensely comfortable. He is thorough in explaining safety issues without being alarming. He explains the safety of a sailboat. Monterey Bay is spectacular and we saw up close and personal otters with pups, seals. We stayed close for nearly an hour to two humpback whales. Because we were sailing it never seemed intrusive while we always maintained a very respectful distance they often seemed to swim towards us and often seemed curious. We always were staying well away from them and not passing close too us but they often surfaced close to look. For our grandstand truly all of us a once in a lifetime experience! I sailed a great deal when younger but not for many years but Kevin was wonderful at letting me take the helm and I treasure that beyond words. So much nicer than a “tour”. A bit more money but worth every single penny! A special experience that if you can consider is a great opportunity for everyone!”

KC M., Absarokee, MT

“I spent an incredible afternoon on Atalanta, the most beautiful and well-kept and extremely comfortable yacht I have seen! Captain Kevin is a very experienced sailor and knows how to provide an enjoyable sailing experience. If you are looking for an unforgettable sailing day, look no further! We even saw whales in the bay!”

Sofia O., San Francisco, CA

Captain Kevin is a well seasoned sailing captain and will ensure every aspect of your trip is expertly addressed before, during and after your sail.

A few notables for those who never sailed before: we sailed in the fall season and wore layers that consisted of hiking pants that are wind and water resistant as well as jackets with the same attributes. Underneath our clothing we wore light thermals and a layer of sporting shirts.

Life at sea is unpredictable in terms of wildlife encounters, however, we were able to experience wildlife in a way that was almost surreal. Captain Kevin and his staff are not only knowledgeable of sailing, but they are versed in the wildlife you may encounter.

For me and my sailing companions it was the trip of a lifetime!

You will not regret sailing with Captain Kevin!

My note to Captain Kevin:

‘Thank you to you and your crew for a job well done! We are thrilled that Shearwater Sailing was able to be a special part of our trip. You have the best combination of talent, skills and attitude that add up to memories of a lifetime!

We would happily recommend Shearwater Sailing to future clients. May you be proud of the sail we had today and the difference you made to us. We are very grateful!’”

— Michel C., Ted A, and Doug C., Morristown, NJ

“Kevin and his crew made sure we had an amazing trip. We have younger children, and they made sure they were comfortable and having an Adventure. Kevin's Yacht is beautiful, clean, and we can't wait to book our overnight tour!”

— Noel D., Modesto, CA

“Before heading from Texas to California for a trip to visit my sons I was searching for an activity that would thrill my adult children. I booked a 2 hour cruise with Kevin for an afternoon sailing experience. All my adult children agreed that this was something they would remember doing for a lifetime. Kevin and crew allowed me, a novice sailor, to sail their sailboat off the shore to see sea creatures. Both Kevin and crew were hospitable and knowledgeable. I could not have asked for a more enjoyable event. Kevin and crew immediately just felt like part of our family. I would definitely suggest adding this to your bucket list or a family "must do" activity.”

— Sandra T., Richardson, TX

“Kevin took our family out for an afternoon sail. His boat, Atalanta, is very nice and clean. Kevin was super friendly and a great host. Highly recommended.”

— Gary L., Castro Valley, CA

“We had a very fun day sailing with Kevin last Saturday and we did manage to see some whales. Kevin has lots of experience in sailing. Kevin and Jared are cool and it was just fun to go out sailing together and do some outdoor stuff at the ocean safely with an experienced tour guide.

I enjoyed very much how the sailboat catches the wind and gets the full speed from 30 to 40 degree angle. Thanks!

Will definitely sail again with Kevin!”

— Roy A., Sunnyvale, CA

“Kevin and Jared showed us an amazing time offshore, we are so glad we included this charter in our schedule during our visit. Kevin was really accommodating with scheduling and was really friendly every time we spoke on the phone. Jared had us cracking up the whole time, and Kevin was very knowledgeable and helpful in teaching my mom to steer. They also were super prepared for people prone to motion sickness like me.”

— Allie M., Richardson, TX