catamaran cruise monterey

Santa Cruz Sailing Charters

Offering Daily Cruises

Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay Charters

Public charters.

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Private Charters

Featured tours.

• Most Popular
• Hour Glass 2 Hours
• User All Ages
• Clock Time vary based on season

Pizza Cruise in Santa Cruz, CA

The afternoon is the most exciting time to be out on the water! Aboard Chardonnay Sailing Charters, enjoy complimentary pizza from Upper Crust, wine, beer, soft drinks, and more.

Sunset Sail in Santa Cruz

Watch the beautiful sunset in a Santa Cruz sailing charter! Enjoy complimentary wine, beer, pizza, soft drinks, and take in the amazing views with family and friends.

The design of the Santa Cruz ’70 sailing yachts is very popular with sailboat racing enthusiasts. Although the hull and sail are designed for speed, the inboard amenities are many, unlike other racing yachts. There is plenty of safe and comfortable topside seating to view the sights and the wildlife of Monterey Bay. Chardonnay Sailing Charters has been able to create a highly-touted experience that caters not only to families, locals, and tourists but to seasoned sailors alike.

Our company is thrilled to be offering the public a genuinely unique experience viewing Santa Cruz and the Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary from a different perspective. Join us on a sunset sail , bring the whole family for an afternoon cruise with pizza , or relax with friends on the water with a brunch cruise . We offer both public and private sailing charters; join us today!

Learn how to sail at our sister company,

Pacific sail, a snapshot of our 5-star experiences ★★★★★.

These folks go out of their way to make you feel safe and comfortable during these trying Covid times. I totally felt safe. Then the added fun of just has a great fun crew. We had great weather and water. It also helped of in the distant we whale breaching.

Wonderful crew, Our Orthodontic Team s Doctors went out on the sail as a team-building event. It turned out perfect we had the best time on the water together. I would recommend it for a large or small group. I want to do it again with my family. Highly recommend the sail.

Celebrated my birthday with friends on the BYO night. It was lovely! Vitamin sea, great music, great views, friendly and fun staff! It’s my second time sailing with them and will continue to book with them! It’s great for any occasion!

We had so much fun got to see wildlife. The captain and his crew were awesome. it was a beautiful sunny day. It was safe and kid friendly. The captain let my niece steer the wheel all by herself it was one of her "best day, ever"!

We had so much fun, the weather was perfect and the crew couldn't have been better!! We went for a birthday and were able to spend time together and the kids were excited to "drive" the boat. We will definitely be back again!

Monterey Bay Eco Tours

Experience the amazing wetland wildlife on our elkhorn slough tours, we are local & family-owned.

The Elkhorn Slough Tour provides amazing wildlife viewing aboard the El Cat, an innovative, custom, fully electric catamaran, built right here in Moss Landing by us. As you glide cleanly and quietly through the meandering channels led by our experienced captain and crew, you’ll be treated to a spectacle of vibrant wetlands and lush marshes teeming with an array of wildlife. During a tour, you will see otters, sea lions, harbor seals, and a diverse population of birds, as the Elkhorn Slough is part of the Pacific Flyway.

IT’S ELECTRIC!

ELKHORN SLOUGH TOUR

Electric Catamaran Tours

Guided Nature Tour • 1.5 Hours • All Ages Welcome

Join us on a one-of-a-kind, electric-powered catamaran ride for a wildlife tour along with one of California’s largest tidal waterways, the Elkhorn Slough. Our naturalist on board will assist in wildlife spotting, providing insight into the natural wonders of the Slough, and to answer any questions during your tour!

SUNSET TOURS ON THE ELKHORN SLOUGH

Guided Nature Tour • 1.5 Hours • All Ages

Join us on a one-of-a-kind, electric-powered catamaran ride for a narrated wildlife tour along one of California’s largest tidal waterways during one of the best time’s of the day – sunset. You are welcome to BYOB during this relaxing and educational sunset tour!

PRIVATE CHARTER

Enjoy a narrated cruise along the Elkhorn Slough, a vibrant and lively wetland located on Highway 1 between Santa Cruz and Monterey in Moss Landing.

• Hour Glass 1.5 hours
• User All ages

ABOUT MONTEREY BAY ECO TOURS

Reconnecting people with nature is what we do! Embark on an eco-conscious adventure with Monterey Bay Eco Tours, dedicated to fostering a genuine connection between people and the natural world. Our El Cat tour not only offers a low-impact journey into the heart of the Elkhorn Slough but also guarantees a responsible encounter with wildlife. Our sunset tour is a great option to enjoy the Slough at the best time of day!

Our tour aboard the El Cat takes you into nature with minimal impact. Not only does the El Cat have zero emissions, but our captains are also respectful of nature, allowing you to see the magical wildlife without affecting their behavior.

ABOUT THE EL CAT

The El Cat is a 37′ fully electric, 32-passenger, Coast Guard-certified vessel. This unique catamaran is designed specifically for the calm waters of the Elkhorn Slough by our very own Joe Kitchell at Left Coast Composites. The boat is made from vacuum-infused carbon fiber/fiberglass, with 2 Elco electric motors running on 48 volts.

With the El Cat’s innovative design, including its fully electric propulsion and environmentally considerate approach led by our knowledgeable captains, you can immerse yourself in the captivating realm of Elkhorn Slough’s magical inhabitants while leaving only ripples in your wake.

Elkhorn Slough Wildlife

• OTTER GUARANTEE

Southern Sea Otter

Scientific Name: Enhydra lutris

• Male: 60-90 lbs (27-41 kg)
• Female: 35-60 lbs (16-27 kg)

Lifespan: 10-20 years in the wild

Interesting Fact: Southern sea otters have the densest fur of any mammal, with up to 1 million hairs per square inch! This thick fur keeps them warm in the cold ocean water, as they lack blubber like other marine mammals.

• Crab otter gaurantee

Harbor Seal

Scientific Name: Phoca vitulina

• Male: 265 lbs (120 kg)
• Female: 220 lbs (100 kg)

Lifespan: 25-30 years

Interesting Fact: Harbor seals are skilled divers and can hold their breath for up to 28 minutes! This allows them to dive deep underwater to hunt for fish, squid, and crustaceans on the ocean floor. They also use their whiskers, called vibrissae, to sense vibrations in the water, helping them locate prey in low-light conditions.

California Sea Lions

Scientific Name: Zalophus californianus

• Male: 600-850 lbs (272-386 kg)
• Female: 200-250 lbs (91-113 kg)
• Male: Up to 19 years
• Female: Up to 25 years

Interesting Fact: California sea lions are the fastest swimming pinniped (group that includes seals, sea lions, and walruses), reaching speeds of up to 25 miles per hour (40 kilometers per hour)! They use their powerful flippers to propel themselves through the water in pursuit of fish, squid, and octopus.

Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)

• Scientific Name: Ardea herodias
• Length: Up to 3.9-5 feet (1.2-1.5 meters)
• Wingspan: Up to 6.5-7.5 feet (2.0-2.3 meters)
• Weight: 6-8 lbs (2.7-3.6 kg)
• Lifespan: Up to 25 years in the wild
• Diet: Primarily fish, but also amphibians, reptiles, crustaceans, and small mammals
• Habitat: Freshwater marshes, wetlands, coasts, and shallow waters
• Interesting Fact: Great blue herons are patient predators. They often stand perfectly still for long periods, waiting for prey to come close enough to be snatched with their long, sharp beaks.

Great Egret

Great Egret (Ardea alba)

• Scientific Name: Ardea alba
• Length: Up to 3.5 feet (1.1 meters)
• Wingspan: Up to 6.5 feet (2.0 meters)
• Weight: 2-4 lbs (0.9-1.8 kg)
• Lifespan: 15-20 years in the wild
• Diet: Primarily fish, amphibians, reptiles, and crustaceans
• Habitat: Freshwater marshes, wetlands, and coasts
• Interesting Fact: Great egrets have a remarkable ability to stand perfectly still for long periods, waiting for prey to come close enough to spear with their sharp bills.

Surf Scoter

Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata)

• Scientific Name: Melanitta perspicillata
• Length: Up to 22 inches (56 cm)
• Wingspan: Up to 42 inches (107 cm)
• Weight: M: 2.2 lbs (1.0 kg), F: 2.0 lbs (0.9 kg)
• Lifespan: Up to 20 years in the wild
• Diet: Primarily mussels, clams, and other mollusks
• Habitat: Coastal waters, estuaries, and bays in winter; freshwater lakes in breeding season
• Interesting Fact: Surf scoters have a unique feeding method called “baying.” They dive underwater in large groups, churning up the bottom sediment to flush out their preferred prey. pen_spark

FAMILY-FRIENDLY TOURS IN MOSS LANDING ★★★★★

We had an amazing time today on this tour. The guides were knowledgeable, easy going and more than happy to answer our questions. We can’t wait to do this again when we visit Monterey again. Thanks again Eco tours, it was great!!! Hemig’s

Very fun and relaxing tour! We had a lot of fun and got to see a lot of wildlife with a good explanation of the species we were seeing. It didn’t feel like a tourist trap and felt the price was fair for the effort put forth.

A wonderful way to get out on the water for those who don't feel comfortable with the motion of boats. The guides were very knowledgeable and explained a lot about the wildlife and we were absolutely delighted to see so many otters !

Joey and Aaron took us out on an electric quiet catamaran. Thus eco. We saw seals, otters, sea lion snd many birds. They were extremely knowledgeable personable and interesting. We even talked about the brain health issues of the otters and their quirky behavior. Would highly recommend.

We took our granddaughter age 10 for the tour of Elkhorn Slough. It was very well organized and the naturalist on board gave an excellent commentary. We saw a great many otters with pups, large groups of pelicans and some harbor seals. It was a nice way to do something safely with our granddaughter outside.

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Sunset Catamaran Sailing Cruise

Monterey, California

Set sail on a sunset cruise aboard a spacious catamaran for a romantic and scenic adventure on Monterey Bay!

🐬 Spot diverse marine life, including sea otters, seals, sea lions, dolphins, and whales

🌅 Enjoy a stunning Monterey Bay sunset from the water

🍹 Relax with a complimentary beverage and snacks

🛥️ Experience a romantic and eco-friendly evening on a spacious catamaran

Availability

After purchase, you can request your preferred dates and times by following the instructions in the email you receive. If it's a gift, the recipient will also get an email with booking instructions.

Year-Round, Daily

Full description

Experience the magic of a Monterey Bay sunset aboard a spacious catamaran, designed for comfort and breathtaking views. This 90-minute sunset cruise is the most popular and romantic way to enjoy the natural beauty of the bay. Departing almost two hours before sunset, this cruise offers the perfect opportunity to unwind and take in the stunning scenery as the sun dips below the horizon.

As you sail, keep an eye out for a variety of marine life, including playful sea otters, seals, sea lions, dolphins, and even whales. The peacefulness of the ocean combined with the vibrant colors of the sunset creates an unforgettable experience. Each ticket includes a beverage of your choice, with options like beer, wine, hard seltzer, soda, and water. Enjoy complimentary snacks such as pretzels and goldfish, and cozy up with provided blankets for added comfort.

This eco-friendly adventure not only provides a serene escape but also supports sustainable tourism.

Practical information

Any restrictions to participate?

• Age : All ages welcome

Who can you accommodate for?

• Children : All participants must pay to participate, children included
• Pets : Sorry, no pets allowed

What to expect on the day of the experience?

• Duration : 1 hour and 30 minutes
• What’s included: One beverage (beer, wine, hard seltzer, soda, or water), snacks (pretzels and goldfish), and blankets
• Who will be present: You will have a guide with you at all times; the catamaran can hold up to 25 people, but capacity is limited to ensure a comfortable experience
• Photo/video : Photos are encouraged!
• Specific rules to follow: Need to follow the guide’s rules

How to prepare?

• Weather dependency: This experience is weather dependent.
• Arrival: Plan to arrive 15 minutes in advance
• Parking: You may park your car at the meeting spot
• What to wear: Comfortable clothing suitable for sailing
• What to bring: Any personal items
• Restrooms/lockers/changing rooms: Restrooms are available on the catamaran

Returns, exchanges and cancellation

Unused Experience Vouchers can be returned within 30 days for a full refund to the original purchaser, no questions asked.

If you have any unused Experience Vouchers, you can exchange them for anything else in our marketplace, no matter when. If you choose an experience that's more expensive, you'll need to pay the difference, but if you choose one that costs less, you'll receive a credit towards your next booking.

No refunds are allowed once the experience is booked, but you can reschedule up to 48 hours before your experience, for a date within a year of the original booking. To reschedule, contact the experience provider directly. No-shows or rescheduling less than 48 hours in advance means losing the value of your experience.

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Free Returns & Exchanges

Unused experience vouchers can be returned within 30 days for a full refund to the original purchaser, no questions asked. If you have any unused experience vouchers, you can exchange them for anything else in our marketplace, no matter when. If you choose an experience that's more expensive, all you’ll need to do is pay the difference, but if you choose one that costs less, we’ll send you a credit towards your next booking!

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78 Old Fishermans Wharf

Monterey, CA 93940

10:00AM - 6:00PM

• (831) 372-7245

Info & Reservations

Sailing in the Monterey Bay

• December 31, 2019

Table of Contents

Where will we sail today.

When you come to our office on Old Fisherman’s Wharf, you are already in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, with sea otters, harbor seals and sea lions regularly swimming under our office, and around the dock where we board. So to answer the question in a general sense, we are sailing in the Monterey bay, which is the largest national marine sanctuary in continental United States.

Home to whales, dolphins, seals, sea otters, sea lions, sea birds, countless species of fish and gorgeous forests of giant kelp. More importantly for us sailors though, Monterey Bay has wind; and it blows almost every day of the year. Sailing is an eco-friendly way so see a protected sanctuary. We burn fuel only to get ourselves in and out of the harbor.

Sailing Up Wind

Rounding the breakwater on a clear, crisp morning with a steady northwest breeze, the boat sailing on a close reach, all you will hear is the wind in the rigging, the water running past the boat, the barking of the sea lions and calls of the sea birds.

This is one of the magical things about sailing, something non-sailors often have trouble believing, that we can sail upwind, within 45 degrees of the direction of the true wind.

For us, sailing to weather on such a day, sailing into the wind, takes us on a northerly course, angling offshore, with Santa Cruz about 25+ miles away, fine on the bow, and the coast of Pacific Grove falling slowly away to port. If conditions are right, we may get far enough out to see the Point Pinos lighthouse off to port, where the coastline of the Monterey Peninsula turns south toward Point Joe, Cypress Point and Carmel.

On the return trip, on a beam reach, the boat is at her best, sailing fast across the wind with the seas and swell astern.

Our Favorite Kind of Wind to Sail in the Monterey Bay

During the warm southerlies, the wind comes over Monterey and Carmel, and the mountains and valleys of the peninsula create gusty bands of offshore winds, interspersed with wind shadows of relative calm. Such conditions make the sailor work hard, watching the water and anticipating the hammer blows of wind. On those days a sailing cruise can be like “Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride.”

On the MMad Catter, our catamaran, the flat seas and gusty winds of the southerlies can make for exhilarating sailing, as the boat accelerates rapidly in the gusts, and heels less than our mono-hulls

Following the Swimming Mammoths in the Monterey Bay

If while we are out sailing in the Monterey Bay we are lucky enough to see whales, we will often change course for our passengers to get a good look, hear the explosive sound of a whale blow, and see the flukes as the whales sound (dive). We like to think the whales enjoy our company because our sailing creates no noise. Engine noise can travel far through the water, but the wind in the sails is quiet for both our passengers and our sea friends. This speak more to the eco-friendly nature of sailing. Click here for more info about our local whale migrations.

Our Destination is the Journey itself

As to the question, “Were do our cruises go?” we can honestly say that every cruise is different, a new experience both for our passengers and us. Sailing in the Monterey Bay, we see new things every day. Sometimes we see migratory birds travelling through the bay in huge flocks, see otters feeding offshore, see whales or dolphins, see seals and sea lions, see the “wine-dark sea” when the red tide is running, see the jellyfish and the mola-mola.

The only constant is the constantly changing mood of the sea, the changing light, the changing winds and waves and currents. Each eco- friendly trip is different. Our captains will share that, and make sure you are safe while being inspired and refreshed by the beauty and vastness of the Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary. Come aboard , adventure with us.

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• Sail Monterey Brochure
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• 78 Old Fishermans Wharf. Monterey, CA 93940
• Office Hours: 10a.m. – 6p.m.

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