Islander 36' / Luna Sea

Important COVID-19 Preamble:



Luna Sea continues to be unavailable for charter while the COVID-19 pandemic rages on in America resulting in over three quarters of a million deaths. We hope to be able to restart charters in the spring, but things are not back to normal, and we are still being careful. Once we restart charters, we will only charter to guests that have been vaccinated. There are no exceptions. Anyone over age 5 must be fully vaccinated or they will not be allowed to board. If you need a captain, I can try to find one for you, but it may take a while once you request a booking. Before I could assure everyone that on most all dates, I could just price the captain’s service at no addition fee. That is no longer the case. In addition, please be advised that if you want to do a bareboat charter you will need to supply a detailed history of your sailing experience.



Best wishes and stay safe.



Luna Sea is an Islander 36. The hull and rig were designed by naval architect Alan Gurney specifically for the San Francisco Bay. Mr. Gurney also designed Windward Passage, multiple winner of the TransPac race to Hawaii and Great Britain II, the first to finish in the first two races of what is now known as the Volvo Ocean Race, then known as the Whitbread Heritage Race. Islander 36’s are well made and well-engineered boats and have the ability to safely carry their crew anywhere they want to go, indeed Islander 36’s have circumnavigated the globe.



The deck, cockpit and interior were designed by Joseph Artese Design.



Luna Sea is very well equipped and has won many races in San Francisco Bay. She’s also won "Cruising Boat of the Year" in 2011 from the Islander 36 Association. Almost all systems have been replaced in the last few years (including a new Yanmar diesel and new Ballenger mast and boom, Raymarine electronics and all standing rigging) so not only is she beautiful to look and sail, but everything also works as you would expect. Luna Sea has an all-teak interior with updated Sunbrella cushions and can sleep 6. She has pressurized hot and cold running water as well as a Force 10 three-burner stove and oven with broiler. You can even plug things in as she has a new 3000-Watt Victron inverter.



Well, we recommend keeping the total on board to eight so that everyone can have a seat in the cockpit when the sailing in the refreshing conditions of San Francisco Bay. We have certainly had more aboard and in full race mode Luna Sea often sails with a crew of 8-10.



Arrangements can be made for a skipper if you like. If I am available, I am happy to come along and I am licensed Captain. However, if I am not available and you need a licensed Captain, we'll do our best to help find one for you. You are of course free to pick any licensed Captain you like. If you do decide to charter with a Captain, you should note that Luna Sea is considered by the US Coast Guard to be an "Uninspected Passenger Vessel" and accordingly when a licensed Captain or the owner is on board on an "Uninspected Passenger Vessel" US Coast Guard rules limit the number of guests or passengers on board to six.



If you feel that you can handle the boat without a Skipper that is fine but please understand that San Francisco Bay can be a very challenging place to sail, especially in the summertime. Luna Sea is a big heavy boat but even she can be a handful for an inexperienced crew is the strong winds that are often present in San Francisco Bay. If you request a charter without a Skipper, please be prepared to provide a detailed history of your sailing experience. If you are not sure then it is best to go with someone aboard that has some experience sailing in San Francisco Bay. When on any boat safety should always come first.



Luna Sea is always chartered with a full tank of fuel, a case or two of beverages and some snacks as well as 25 pounds of ice. If you have any special requests just let me know and we'll be happy to try and accommodate you. Don't hesitate to ask for your favorite drinks! Luna Sea also comes with an unlimited pass to dock or moor at Angel Island. While you cannot dock at Angel Island after sunset you can get a mooring and stay in this very protective cove overnight. All boats are required to moor with both bow and stern lines at Angel Island and of course we have extra-long mooring lines on board to assist with that.



If you are sailing on budget look to request a booking on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. Those days are less in demand and accordingly you can usually save about $100 by sailing then. Also Luna Sea is a kid friendly boat and we encourage young people to go sailing. Ask about special rates for sailors that bring along some kids!



One more note:



And again, it is good for everyone to keep in mind that sailing on San Francisco Bay, especially in the summer, can be a challenge for even the most experienced sailors. We can try to arrange for an experienced SF Bay sailor to go out with you if you want.



Have fun.



Thank you.



--Dan