Sunsail Goes Racing On San Francisco Bay!

We mentioned earlier that Sunsail was opening a base in Sausalito on San Francisco Bay, and the first eight of the Sunsail First 40s have just arrived. 

What is particularly appealing about these Beneteau-built 40s is that they are Farr-designed, performance-oriented yachts that are fully equipped with spinnaker gear and triple-spreader rigs so that local sailors can charter them for the many regattas on San Francisco Bay. 

The First 40, which has been adapted to Sunsail specifications, has built an envious record for a production boat: winner of the 2010 Rolex Sydney-Hobart race, winner of Cowes Week, winner of Spi Ouest France, and winner of the Voiles de Saint-Tropez.  If you don’t take home silverware with this Sunsail charter, well, it’s not the boat’s fault.

The Sunsail First 40 is a three-cabin layout with a generous sail plan and niceties such as a chartplotter, autopilot and a heated interior that is perfect for Bay sailing.

Details from Sunsail, www.sunsail.com/sanfrancisco or 800-797-5907.

Sunsail Opens In San Francisco!

Sunsail has opened its first U.S. West Coast charter base on San Francisco Bay, with a fleet of brand-new matched Sunsail First 40s.  In addition to bareboat vacations, the boats can be used for racing in the many events in the bay area and they are also available for corporate hospitality, team building and incentive programs. Sunsail will also have an ASA-approved sailing school. 

The charter base will be at Sausalito Yacht Harbor, just across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco.  This is a central location for sailing the bay or for exploring the wine country of nearby Napa Valley.  The boats can also be taken into the Sacramento Delta, which is the warm playground for San Francisco sailors.  The new base will open in June.

The First 40s are built by Beneteau and designed by Farr Yacht Design as performance racers, and they took first and second overall in the 2009 Sydney-Hobart Race.  Each has a 3-cabin/1-head layout and a spacious cockpit with large wheel.  For racing, the boats will be available with asymmetrical spinnakers and bowsprits as well as amenities such as chartplotters, autopilots, electric heads and sure-to-be-appreciated heating.

Moorings Opens In Corfu

Corfu, courtesy Greek National TourismThe Moorings announced before the 2012 Miami Boatshow that they are opening a new base in Corfu, just off the northwest coast of Greece, which opens the northern and southern Ionian islands for bareboat charters.

Called the “Jewel of the Ionian”, Corfu has consistently good weather and a choice of open sea sailing or short island hops and even some interesting ports along the mainland. 

Initially, the fleet will consist of Beneteau-built monohulls, including the Moorings 41.3 (3 cabin/2-head), 43.3 (3 cabin/3-head) and 50.5 (5 cabin/5 head).  Also available will be the Moorings 3900 catamaran, a private model of the Leopard 38, with an owner’s cabin in one hull with head and a pair of staterooms sharing a head in the other hull.

The Corfu base will be open during the primary sailing season from April through November, and charterers can expect 10-20 knot northwesterlies in the afternoons, air temperatures between 76F and 82F, and water temps of 78F.  The base is just ten minutes from the Corfu international airport.

Charterers can explore Ithaca, home of Odysseus, as well as the islands of Kefalonia, Lefkas and many more.  Expect great snorkeling and scuba diving, seafood tavernas, and quiet coves.

Info at The Moorings or 800-535-7289.