Our vision of providing a fast and fun sailing experience to the public, while striving for excellent first class service, came to life in 1984. Chardonnay Sailing Charters was born with the purchase of our first vessel, Chardonnay I. She was a beautiful Santa Cruz ‘50 designed by the celebrated yacht designer, Bill Lee. Lee, known to many as The Wizard, is one of the founders of the Santa Cruz School of Boatbuilding and the designer of many famous racing yachts.
While growing up in the Santa Cruz Mountains and farming the family vineyards, our company owner developed a passion for growing and producing local Chardonnay wine. The owner’s love of this varietal thus influenced the company’s name, “Chardonnay” Sailing Charters.
As our company began to grow, Chardonnay I could no longer accommodate all of our enthusiastic customers. In 1991, with the creation of a new partnership, Chardonnay I was replaced by a larger Santa Cruz ‘70, Chardonnay II. Like her sister, Chardonnay II was custom built by the same designer, Bill Lee. Over the past 25 years, Chardonnay II has been a major icon in the Santa Cruz community for locals and tourists alike. Recently, in 2015, we have expanded our company further with the addition of a second Santa Cruz 70′, Chardonnay III. Chardonnay III’s sporty race design is perfect for our more adventurous customers!
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.
We look forward to sailing with you aboard our fun, fast, and exciting yachts while providing you with first-class service and a memorable experience!