First of all, it was my wife’s birthday on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, November 29 so we called on November 28 not realizing that Bill had closed for the season... read more he was gracious enough to ask us where we were and being in Williamsburg that day he invited us to come out with him in the afternoon When we got there, it was just very relaxing and informal we were able to take our golden doodle with us who had never been on a boat Bill was great with him. He had the best time standing up on the boat looking over the side and everything, Bill is very knowledgeable I had a great time talking with him and my wife was on the steering wheel almost the whole trip, so Bill did the sails and instructed my wife who was terrific I helped a tiny bit She truly had an exceptional birthday one that we’ll remember the rest of her life strongly strongly recommend this to anybody looking to do something unique and learn some history and learn about sailing and everything else that Bill has an extensive knowledge of. Thanks Bill

  This was our first time sailing and my soon-to-be 21-year-old son and I had an incredible sailing experience with Captain Bill. The water was calm and peaceful, and the weather... read more was immaculate for a November day! Captain Bill was nice, accommodating, friendly, and an excellent guide with his knowledge of the area and naval experience. I will definitely share my awesome experience with families and friends, but for those who look into a sailing excursion, I highly recommend Captain Bill. You won't be disappointed!

  A sail with Williamsburg Charter Sails was a surprise for my husband’s birthday. The boat is a beautiful 32 footer that is kept in tip top shape. Captain Bill gave... read more us great historical tidbits regarding sites along the way as well as information about the river. He is a very gracious man who made the sail all the more interesting. It was a truly relaxing and fun afternoon.
Living locally, I’m not sure why we hadn’t sailed with Williamsburg Charter Sails before this, but we will definitely be back! Such a great way to spend a morning or afternoon!

  My husband and I enjoy battlefields and history but wanted a slightly different way to experience the area than visiting a national park. Williamsburg Charter Sails was the perfect balance... read more between relaxing on a boat and learning about the navel battles that occurred during the Revolutionary War.

CPT Bill responded quickly to emails and provided great instructions for what to expect. We got a full three hours of sail time in with another couple and my husband got to steer the boat a bunch as we sailed (he was thrilled about that). There were complimentary photos sent the next day and I personalized email.

Make sure you eat something before you go. While water is provided and you can bring your own snacks/drinks, it can be a long trip if you are hungry.

  Sailing Adventure - We had a lovely time. Capt. Bill was a great guide and my husband thoroughly enjoyed sailing the boat.

  We spent our 10th anniversary in Williamsburg and capped off our trip with a day of sailing. It was a gorgeous day, with both beautiful views and temperatures. We even... read more got to see a large pod of dolphins-- the most I have ever seen at once! Bill was a great host, and we highly recommend sailing with him.

  Super Saturday Sailing - Captain Bill was a great historian. We took the afternoon historic sail. He was very infromative and entertaining. It was a great way to spend a fall... read more day sailing on the York River. We totally enjoyed our time with Captain Bill.

  Wonderful Day Sail - Great Day Sail with Captain Bill. Very well organized trip, lovely boat and marina. We appreciated the updated weather forecast and the instructions received prior to departure. We enjoyed... read more a beautiful day on the York River, and plenty of practice at the helm.

  What an incredible experience my wife and I had on our 32nd wedding anniversary. What a beautiful and extremely well maintained boat and Captain Bill was a very experienced and... read more knowledgeable sailor. We could not planned a better day on the river I even got to help raise the sails and we each had our try at the wheel. Not only did we have a awesome day sailing we learned a little too. If you are in the Williamsburg Virginia area I would suggest anyone give it a try.

  Exceeded all expectations! - Our afternoon of sailing for my husband's birthday exceeded all expectations! Captain Bill was so easy to work with and communicative in scheduling from the start. Once we... read more got out on the water, his knowledge of both sailing, naval history, and the area made for a fascinating and delightful afternoon. We even got a surprise of seeing a naval warship pass through the Coleman Bridge. A perfect afternoon. Can't recommend highly enough for locals or visitors.

  I surprised my husband with a day of sailing as he missed it so much. Captain Bill was the type of person who genuinely cared about your experience. He was... read more sociable and so very kind. My husband sailed before and to see his happiness being at the helm and helping the whole time was just a memory we both will never forget! Book this for your anniversary, date, or just because. I promise you your happiness will be just as matched as ours. Thank you so much Captain Bill, we will be back for sure.

  We had a wonderful historical sail of the York River with our Adult son and Nephew on their visit here from Texas. Bill O’Donovan offers a special trip! We even... read more helped with the rigging!

  What better way to spend a beautiful September afternoon than sailing on a 32' sail boat with Captain Bill? My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our 3 hr cruise on... read more the York River. Captain Bill is friendly and knowledgeable. The only disappointment was that we didn't go out into the Chesapeake~ but a great afternoon nonetheless.

  Sit back, relax, and feel the breeze. It’s an easy motor out to the York River, and the sails are up.
If you’re looking for a laidback sail past... read more historic Yorktown, you are in good hands with Captain Bill. You’ll have a fantastic time.
If you’re the type that likes to take the helm, and learn a bit about sailing, you’re in for a real treat!

  Excellent experience out sailing on the York River near the Chesapeake Bay. Exceeded all expectations!

  Once again we had a memorable time with Capt. Bill. The boat is impeccably maintained, the Captain experienced and very knowledgeable of the area, and the conditions were most... read more favorable for a relaxing cruise. This is our second time with Bill. Outstanding value and family affordable. Very safe, you won’t be disappointed!

  Captain Bill deserves the high marks - he was very flexible and understanding in helping accommodate an older family for a birthday sailing trip.

  Our 3 hour sail with Captain Bill surpassed our expectations. My husband, being an experienced sailor, got to take the helm. Turns out Capt. Bill is not only... read more a proficient sailor but also a well versed historian. We learned so much on this sail. I can't say enough about how awesome this was, Definitely the best part of our trip.

  We were looking for something we could do with my 4.5 month old puppy and my parents who have mobility restrictions. Captain Bill was able to accommodate everyone! ... read more We decided to take the historical tour, and Captain Bill was a great Naval Battle guide. In our three hours, he let two of us take the wheel. I got to spend some time at the bow of the boat. Our pup loved the smells of the ocean and Captain Bill was great with him. This was the most relaxing three hours of our trip. We would 100% recommend this trip for any families with a pup!

  Captain Bill is fantastic! He is very knowledgeable and fun. The boat is beautiful. We all had a terrific day sailing!

  The Captain was a great man with extensive knowledge of the area and extremely well familiar with the history of the area and specifically the Revolutionary War. His sailboat was... read more well maintained and he had all the gear required by the US Coast Guard. Anyone planning a charter on the James River would be foolish to book with any other Captains. He is the best.

  Capt Bill is a seasoned sailor and takes great care of his guests, Very enjoyable afternoon sail and learned many new things about sailing and the local area. Highly recommend

  Such a fun day on the water - Bill was so easygoing and let my family sail which meant so much! I would definitely recommend this to anyone who wants... read more to learn how to sail or get out on the water for a nice day - overall 10/10 experience!

  Bill is a gentleman. My wife and I took our three college age kids and everyone had a great time. I highly recommend it.

  Wow beyond expectations and a great experience! Captain Bill came, saw, and delivered and amazing sail with much information along the way talk about my first time sailing ️... read more where the wind guides you. It was a great adventure and we got to see a warship, bridges open and clouds ️ cover the river! It was fantastic!

  PERFECT! I took my brother as a birthday gift and WOW! what a fantastic trip. Captain Bill is the perfect host. He made sure everyone was comfortable... read more and allowed us to participate in the trip in our own way. For my brother - Captain Bill held conversation with him the whole trip; he allowed me to just enjoy sailing the boat with his expert intervention when needed. Great day- perfect weather. Yes, I will be going again....soon.

  Captain Bill was welcoming, knowledge, and friendly! He’s a great conversationalist and instructor. My husband and I sailed with him on our anniversary. It was an exceptionally hot day, but... read more Captain Bill was prepared with ice cold waters. We had a wonderful time and would recommend this trip to anyone.

  The intimate experience shared with Captain Bill was enhanced by his articulate information, the history involved, and the personal safety and attention given to the passengers.

  The intimate experience shared with Captain Bill was enhanced by his articulate information, the history involved, and the personal safety and attention given to the passengers.

  I wanted to give my wife something unique experience for her birthday and came upon “Let’s Go Sail” and it was perfect. The booking process was simple. Captain Bill contacted... read more us soon after the booking with comprehensive instructions and what to expect. Updated weather report the night before our sail was provided. We visited the American Revolutionary Museum prior to our sail to make sure we were in the area and not mess up our departure time. Once at the yacht club, Captain Bill met us promptly and whisked us away to his boat. We were given a quick safety briefing as we boarded and were on our way. Captain Bill was quite knowledgeable of his craft and explained exactly what to expect and how to sail. Once under way, he allowed us to take the helm with instructions how to catch the wind. The wife and I are big fans of military history, Captain Bill explained the Battle of the Capes in detail to include paintings of the battle. Explaining the nuances of age of sail battles. It was a fantastic lesson on a little known battle which had huge consequences for our nation. During the lesson a school of dolphins dropped by and we stopped everything as Captain Bill tried to draw them in closer with a bell. Once under way again a storm was closing in and we made way back to port. This trip was amazing, my wife loved it and I gave her a very memorable Birthday present. Thank you Captain Bill for a wonderful experience. Anyone reading this, you cannot go wrong here, it was a wonderful personal sailing experience.