Bay Sailing Tour with Drinks in San Francisco: Two Hours Under Sail on the Privateer
Quick answer
The Bay Sailing Tour with Drinks in San Francisco is a $129 sail on the Privateer from Pier 39 Dock F, with a captain, first mate and two drinks.
The listing says 2 hours, though its URL says 90 minutes; GetYourGuide rates it 4.6/5 from 159+ reviews.
The Bay Sailing Tour with Drinks in San Francisco is a shared sail on the Privateer, a double-masted sailboat run by San Francisco Sailing Company from Pier 39, priced at $129 per person with two drinks included.
A captain and a first mate crew the boat, and the sails go up once you leave the dock, so it is a real sail and not a motor cruise. It is one of the options on my San Francisco sailing page.
The detail that changes the decision is how old the evidence is. The 20 reviews I can read run from 2019 to November 2024, and the listing's URL still says "90 minute" while its duration field says 2 hours.
That is a good product with a stale paper trail, so ask the operator for the current length and sailing season before you pay. For cheaper options see the San Francisco boat tours guide, and the harbour guide home page covers other cities.
| Operator | San Francisco Sailing Company (sold on GetYourGuide) |
|---|---|
| Boat | The Privateer, a double-masted sailboat; the listing says it seats 28 passengers and gives no other specs, so ask for the cap on your date |
| Price | $129 per person (USD), checked 2026-10-17 |
| Duration | 2 hours per the listing's duration field; the listing URL says 90 minutes. Ask the operator |
| Departure times | Not stated on the listing; shown after you pick a date |
| Start point | Pier 39 Dock F on Google Maps (the Aquarium of the Bay side, on the eastern edge of the pier) |
| Route | Past Alcatraz and Angel Island, the Bay Bridge, Sausalito and along the Golden Gate Bridge, then back to the dock |
| Crew | Captain and first mate |
| Food and drinks | Two drinks included (beer, wine, water or a soft drink); bring-your-own food is allowed; gratuities not included |
| Languages | English |
| Accessibility | Not wheelchair accessible: wheelchairs cannot be brought on board |
| Cancellation | Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure |
| Rating | 4.6/5 from 159+ reviews on GetYourGuide |
What is the Bay Sailing Tour with Drinks in San Francisco?
It is a small-crew sailing trip on San Francisco Bay where the captain motors out of the dock, raises the sails and takes guests past the city landmarks, with two drinks served by the first mate. The operator is San Francisco Sailing Company.
- Boat: the Privateer, a sailboat with two masts, a captain and a first mate.
- Drinks: two per guest, from beer, wine, water or a soft drink.
- Pace: relaxed; guests can ask the crew about the landmarks, and the listing offers no scripted commentary.
- Scores: guide 4.7, transport 4.7 and value for money 4.5 out of 5.
One reviewer expected a narrated sail and found a question-and-answer style crew instead, and liked it. If you want a recorded commentary, the bigger sightseeing boats do that better.
Where does the Bay Sailing Tour with Drinks leave from?
The sail boards at Pier 39 Dock F, on the eastern edge of the pier, beside the Aquarium of the Bay: Pier 39 Dock F on Google Maps. The first mate meets guests at the Dock F gate and walks them to the boat.
The listing gives a walking route inside the pier:
- Enter Pier 39 through the main entrance, with the Hard Rock Cafe on your right-hand side.
- Turn right at the first corner, by the fruit stand or the bungee trampoline.
- When you reach the water, turn left and walk along it to Dock F.
- Wait at the gate for the first mate.
| From | Walk | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bay and Taylor cable car turnaround (Powell-Mason line) | 11 min (787 m) walking route | Closest cable car end of line |
| Hyde and Beach cable car turnaround (Powell-Hyde line) | 16 min (1,167 m) walking route | Passes Fisherman's Wharf |
A cable car single costs $9.00, while a Muni bus or rail single is $2.85 with Clipper and valid for 120 minutes. The listing does not state a check-in time. Plan to be at the gate well before departure and ask San Francisco Sailing Company for its arrival rule.
How long is the Bay Sailing Tour with Drinks?
The listing says 2 hours, while its web address says 90 minutes. I trust the structured duration field, but I cannot confirm it from any operator source, so treat the length as unverified.
| If the sail is | Price per hour | Against the city median |
|---|---|---|
| 2 hours | $64 | Above the $54 median |
| 90 minutes | $86 | Well above the median |
Neither reading makes this the cheap option, but it is the cheapest crewed sailboat in the city at 2 hours. The Sailing SF Bay trips cost $149 and the catamaran sunset costs $90 for 1.5 hours. Ask for the length in writing if your day is tight.
What is on board and what is included?
The ticket covers the crew, the sail and two drinks per guest, and leaves food and tips to you. Here is what the listing adds up to.
- Included: the sailing tour, a full crew and two drinks (beer, wine, water or a soft drink).
- Not included: gratuities. One reviewer notes that most guests did not tip a crew he rated top class.
- Food: you may bring your own.
- Not allowed: smoking, and bringing alcohol or drugs aboard.
- Bring: ID, comfortable closed-toe shoes and warm clothing.
The drinks line sat in an includes list that can hide exclusions, so I checked the description: it says guests are served two drinks, which confirms they are included. Every passenger, including infants, needs a ticket under U.S. Coast Guard rules, according to the listing.
What is the route, sight by sight?
The sail passes five sights from Pier 39, with no landing: Alcatraz, Angel Island, the Bay Bridge, Sausalito and the Golden Gate Bridge. The listing does not say how far under the Golden Gate the boat sails, only that it runs alongside it for photos.
| Sight | What the listing says | Map |
|---|---|---|
| Alcatraz | Passed on the way out | Alcatraz Island on Google Maps |
| Angel Island | Passed | Angel Island State Park on Google Maps |
| Bay Bridge | Seen from the water | San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge on Google Maps |
| Sausalito | City on the Marin shore | Sausalito on Google Maps |
| Golden Gate Bridge | Photo stretch alongside the span | Golden Gate Bridge on Google Maps |
746 ft is how far the Golden Gate Bridge towers rise above the water, so the sails look small beside them.
The National Park Service looks after Alcatraz Island and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Neither is a landing on this trip.
How does it compare with the other San Francisco sailing trips?
This is the cheapest crewed sailboat on the site, and the biggest group size of the sailing options; the small-group yachts cost $149 and carry at most six guests. Prices come from my product data.
| Trip | Price | Length | Per hour | GetYourGuide rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bay Sailing Tour with Drinks (this sail) | $129 | 2 hours | $64 | 4.6 from 159 |
| (2hr) Interactive Sailing Experience | $149 | 2 hours | $74 | 4.8 from 28 |
| 2-Hour Small-Group Sunset Sailing on SF Bay | $149 | 2 hours | $74 | 4.7 from 17 |
| San Francisco Bay Sunset Cruise by Luxury Catamaran | $90 | 1.5 hours | $60 | 4.8 from 1,174 |
| San Francisco Bay Sightseeing Cruise International Narration | $39 | 1 hour | $39 | 4.6 from 1,571 |
The Sailing SF Bay interactive sail costs $149, carries six guests and lets you steer. The two-hour small-group sunset sail costs $149 at sunset. For a catamaran, the Adventure Cat sunset cruise costs $90 for 1.5 hours.
Is the San Francisco Sailing Company sail with drinks worth $129?
It is worth $129 when you want to be on a sailboat under sail with two drinks and a friendly crew; at $64 an hour it is above the $54 median, so you are paying for the sailing and not the sightseeing. For landmark facts a narrated boat gives more for less.
- First-time sailors - reviewers praise a crew that explains the sailing and answers questions.
- Couples and friends - small groups, music requests and two drinks each suit a relaxed afternoon.
- Photographers - the route runs alongside the Golden Gate for photos.
- Skip it if you use a wheelchair, want a scripted tour or need the exact length confirmed.
When is the best time to go?
Go in September or October for the warmest water-side weather: the 2025 average high was 70 F in September and 69 F in October with 2 and 4 rain days, against 56 F and 10 rain days in December.
One reviewer noticed the bay was warmer and sunnier out on the water than in the fog bank over the city, and the National Weather Service explains the marine layer behind that.
| Month | Avg high 2025 | Avg high 2015-24 | Rain days 2025 | On deck |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 59 F | 57 F | 2 | Warm layer plus windproof shell |
| February | 59 F | 59 F | 12 | Warm layer plus windproof shell |
| March | 60 F | 59 F | 12 | Warm layer plus windproof shell |
| April | 62 F | 61 F | 3 | Warm layer plus windproof shell |
| May | 66 F | 63 F | 1 | Layer and windbreaker; sun can be strong between fog banks |
| June | 64 F | 67 F | 0 | Layer and windbreaker; sun can be strong between fog banks |
| July | 63 F | 67 F | 0 | Layer and windbreaker; sun can be strong between fog banks |
| August | 68 F | 68 F | 0 | Layer and windbreaker; sun can be strong between fog banks |
| September | 70 F | 70 F | 2 | Light layer; still breezy on the water |
| October | 69 F | 69 F | 4 | Light layer; still breezy on the water |
| November | 62 F | 62 F | 8 | Warm layer plus windproof shell |
| December | 56 F | 56 F | 10 | Warm layer plus windproof shell |
The National Park Service climate page describes how summer fog cools the city. The next public holiday is Veterans Day on 11 November 2026 (Nager.Date API). Sunset on 15 October is at 6:33 PM, so an afternoon sail ends in daylight; the listing gives no sunset departures.
What do passengers say?
Reviewers praise the crew and the quiet of the sail, with one note on the cold and one on tipping; the 20 shown reviews are all 5 stars and run from 2019 to 2024, so the sample is positive and old.
| Theme | How often | What the sample says |
|---|---|---|
| Crew | Most of the 20 | Captain and first mate named as friendly and knowledgeable |
| Sailing feel | Several | Sailed most of the way; small, peaceful group |
| Cold | 1 of 20 | Dress warmer than you think |
| Tipping | 1 of 20 | Guest says most passengers did not tip |
| Sample age | All 20 | Newest review is November 2024 |
Who should skip it?
Skip this sail if you use a wheelchair, because the listing says wheelchairs cannot be brought aboard, or if you want a scripted commentary. Parents should also note that infants need a ticket.
- Wheelchair users: see the boat tours guide for larger boats and ask each operator.
- Hands-on sailors: the interactive sailing experience lets you take the wheel.
- Sunset seekers: read the sunset cruise page.
How do you book the Bay Sailing Tour with Drinks?
From $129 per person for a crewed sail on the Privateer from Pier 39 Dock F with two drinks, and free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Check availabilityI earn a commission if you book through this link, at no extra cost to you.
Bay Sailing Tour with Drinks: questions answered
Is the San Francisco bay cruise worth it?
Yes, if you want the skyline and the Golden Gate from the water; this $129 sail adds real sailing and two drinks but costs more per hour than a motor cruise.
What is the best boat tour in San Francisco?
For sailing, this Privateer trip; for the cheapest view, a one-hour sightseeing boat. See the boat tours guide.
How much is the Bay Sailing Tour with Drinks?
It costs $129 per person on GetYourGuide, checked 2026-10-17.
How long is it?
The listing says 2 hours, though its URL says 90 minutes, so ask San Francisco Sailing Company to confirm.
Where does it leave from?
It boards at Pier 39 Dock F, on the eastern edge of the pier by the Aquarium of the Bay, where the first mate collects guests.
What drinks are included?
Two drinks per guest, from beer, wine, water or a soft drink.
Can I bring food?
Yes, the listing allows guests to carry their own food; gratuities are not included.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
No: wheelchairs cannot be brought on board, though the listing welcomes passengers with disabilities.
Do babies need a ticket?
Yes, the listing says every passenger, including infants, needs a ticket under U.S. Coast Guard rules.
Can I cancel?
Yes, up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, according to the listing.
Sources: GetYourGuide listing (price, includes, rating, checked 2026-10-17); SFMTA fares; NPS Alcatraz Island; NPS Presidio climate; Golden Gate Bridge facts; NWS JetStream marine layer; Open-Meteo archive API; sunrise-sunset.org API; Nager.Date API; OSRM foot routing.
