Sunsail - San Francisco Here We Come

by Mark Windsor/Sail-World on 23 Apr 2012 Thinking about chartering a boat for your next overseas holiday? What about San Francisco? Sunsail, best known as a charter boat operator, have announced they will open their very first base on the U.S. West Coast in San Francisco, California in June. They are using a brand new matched fleet of Sunsail First 40s for the project.

This new destination represents the launch of a new product portfolio, which will offer, among other things, Corporate Hospitality & Events, Team Building/Incentive Programs, in addition to Bareboat Sailing Vacations, Skippered Yacht Charters, and Sailing School.

Why San Francisco?
San Francisco is one of the top tourist destinations in the world and has been ranked 33rd out of the 100 most visited cities worldwide by Euromonitor International. Now, travellers and local residents can explore the region in a whole new way with Sunsail.

The San Francisco Bay area is regarded as one of the world's most beautiful natural harbours and is home to a remarkable landscape where ocean water and steep rolling hills meet eclectic architecture and famous landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge, Lombard Street, Chinatown, Fisherman's Wharf, Alcatraz, the Italian district of North Beach, Union Square, and the list goes on. An added attraction to the Bay area is its close proximity to the Napa Valley region, allowing customers to visit many vineyards on an extended sailing itinerary with stops in Benicia, Petaluma, Napa Valley and more.

Cheryl Powell, Chief Operating Officer of Sunsail, noted, 'Also unique to the Bay are consistent wind patterns, varying wind strengths and the ability to sail in enclosed waters, all of which create the perfect arena for a range of activities with conditions matched to experience level. These characteristics make San Francisco the ideal location for our new US-based Racing, Schools and Corporate, Meeting & Incentives Programs, in addition to charter vacations.'

The fleet of Sunsail First 40s will be available for charter to race in numerous local regattas held throughout the year, while the Corporate, Meetings and Incentives industry will also benefit from Sunsail's customized and highly successful programs for Team Building, Client Entertainment, Employee Rewards, Leadership Training and more.

Sunsail offers a fully comprehensive range of sailing courses, designed for every level of ability and previous experience. We have courses suitable for families, groups or individuals. Our courses cover everything from the basics of boat handling to advanced sailing skills. Schedule by the cabin or charter a full yacht to gain certification in the ASA 101, 103 and 104 courses.

NEW Charter Facilities:
Sunsail's San Francisco base is located at Sausalito Yacht Harbour, a popular sailing area in the Bay. The Sausalito waterfront is just a quick 30-minute sail from the Golden Gate Bridge, offering spectacular views of the bridge, the city and world famous Alcatraz. Whether wandering through Sausalito's hidden stairways and charming downtown that is reminiscent of the Mediterranean , cruising the waterways on a Sunsail First 40 yacht, hiking or biking... there is plenty to do. With easy access to San Francisco and the scenic north coast's beaches and redwood forests, as well as the wine country, Sausalito truly is the gateway to some of the most beautiful and sought after destinations in the world.

With Sunsail's new location on San Francisco Bay and the First 40 fleet, customers will have access to the events surrounding the 34th America's Cup. Sunsail's yachts offer the best seats in the house to watch all of the America's Cup action, including the 2012-2013 America's Cup World Series (Aug 21-26 & October 4-7, 2012), Louis Vuitton - AC Challenger Series (July 4-September 1, 2013), and the 34th America's Cup (September 7-22, 2013).

The new Sunsail San Francisco base is also an easy reach with excellent highway access, and air travel options via the San Francisco and Oakland International Airports.

One-Design Fleet: Sunsail First 40:
The Sunsail fleet in San Francisco will include 8 brand NEW identical Sunsail First 40s, sister-ships to the world's largest matched fleet of 42 Sunsail First 40s based in Port Solent, UK. Built by Beneteau and designed by Farr Yacht Design, the First 40 is a thoroughbred sailing yacht, ideal for racing, cruising and learning how to sail, First 40 suits the needs of all sailors and crew. A proven performer, the First 40 took first and second overall in the IRC Division of the 2009 Rolex Sydney to Hobart Race. In the same year it was awarded Crossover Boat of the Year by Sailing World magazine.

A new configuration with a 3-cabin/1-head layout offers a tremendous amount of comfort and space without compromising performance. On deck, the spacious open cockpit, large wheel and large sail plan have produced a First 40 ideally suited to racing and cruising. In addition to standard specifications, this outstanding yacht also comes with asymmetric spinnaker, bow sprit, chartplotter, autopilot, electric head, and heating.?