Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina, 1380 Harbor Island Drive, San Diego, CA 92101
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Experiencing San Diego’s best Whale Watching Charter
Experiencing San Diego’s best Whale Watching Charter

JADA Setting Sail in San Diego Bay

Today isn’t the first time I’ve been on a sailboat, but it’s the first time to be on one with such a colorful history. JADA, docked at the Sheraton Marina on Harbor Island, is a 65-foot survivor. The only authentic classic wooden sailing yacht for charter in San Diego, She was built in 1938 as a graduation gift for a not-so-wayward son. $28,000 at that time translates to over $3 million to recreate her today. Greats like John Wayne, Bogart and Bacall (while they were having an affair and barred from the yacht club) walked her decks. She’s no sissy either. Built to race to Hawaii and beyond to Tahiti, she’s not tethered to the Pacific shores of California. She’s even weathered a major hurricane.

A sailboat cutting through calm water in the harbor is a weightless experience. Silent. To be on the water, spirited only by the wind is extraordinary. If only the marine layer hadn’t staggered around the horizon and clung to land like a drunk without a jacket, I wouldn’t have needed mine. It dropped the temps to chilly. I sought sunny spots on the deck to stay warm and watch for whales.

The crew served snacks, offered sea-sick meds to those in need, sunscreen, beer, water, sodas and white wine. I stayed with water, no need teasing the digestive tempest that a wake-crashing sail boat could awaken. The enthusiastic crew took turns telling the history of Naval operations on Coronado, Top Gun take offs, the whales and dolphins which the military trained near Point Loma. I had wondered why they trained these ocean mammals and would never, ever have guessed they made guards out of these warm-blooded vertebrates. They train them to scour the harbor and detect deep water divers or mobilized intruders that threaten the military installation. I’d never considered an underwater attack approach threat, but divers, submarines and smaller depth craft could be as destructive as the bombers that leveled Pearl Harbor with today’s technology.

whale watching san diegoOnce we were on the high seas beyond the bay, our whale watch began in earnest. A marine biologist was aboard as part of the crew and made their migration into an engaging story. Because of her, I saw the white spots on the whale’s back not as psoriasis, but scars left from the barnacles that lived until they died there, to become crumbs along the migration trail’s ocean floor.

 

It is stirring to hear a whale breathe, see the spray, feel its exhale, watch its fluke wave as it dives deep. Unleashed power on a south bound migration. We passed by several whales and I was proud the crew didn’t turn the boat and chase them.  JADA is a class act. Carole, the owner, visited with us, told stories and topped off a fascinating day aboard a legend of the seas.

A day of adventure, interesting people, places and things can be experienced on your own.  Don’t stay at home unless you truly want to.  I didn’t board or disembark JADA with a date, but it was a wonderful experience I enjoyed as JADA herself became my date. Even if dementia melts it away one day, I will have savored the encounter.

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Sail JADA Charters
5.0
Based on 9 reviews
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Lori Underw
Lori Underw
04:41 24 Jul 19
Amazing day spent sailing on Jada a beautiful boat built in 1938as told by... the owner Carol,the crew was also very courteous and helpful.I would highly recommend for any occasion,its never a bad day in Americas Finest City!read more
Becky Stoltz
Becky Stoltz
06:50 11 Nov 18
My family had such a wonderful, peaceful, and memorable experience... spreading my father's ashes thanks to the kind and friendly staff. Carole was amazing coordinating with my mom who was having a bit of a tough time organizing the service. She gave my mom all the needed information for our guests and spoke with her several times before hand to make sure everything went smoothly. The crew was there to help and were so incredibly friendly. They even had a bluetooth speaker for us to use to play music and served us while aboard. Carole even recommended some nice local dinner spots as we were not local. Overall they were extremely accommodating and things could not have gone better to honor my fathers wishes. When I thanked carole for her kindness she told me that weddings and funerals are two ceremonies that people remember for years to come so it was important to her to make sure that our experience was something to remember. I was very touched to say the least.read more
Jack Martin
Jack Martin
06:28 13 Jan 18
Definitely a must do in San Diego! Top Notch. I wouldn't think twice about... bringing family and friends to enjoy a day like this again and again. Carole and her crew were absolutely wonderful, she even had a naturist to show us all there was to see and enjoy !! Very personable. She was eager to get us the best whale watching experience possible. She continued to make sure we were comfortable and fed as we sailed the ocean. The Jada is a beautiful historical vessel.Thank you very much for the great trip, you guys did an amazing job, we enjoyed the tour very much! highly recommend!!read more
Kathleen Dowse
Kathleen Dowse
01:59 19 Aug 14
What an awesome ride! Everyone was so friendly and the view was great! It... was a little bit of energy to navigate to the back of the hotel, but there is tons of parking and really pretty easy to find your way. It is definitely worth it! The marina was so pretty and the boat was great. read more
Doranne Godwin
Doranne Godwin
15:33 26 Apr 14
I have been on this beautifully restored boat for a number of sails, both... private and public, and have always had a great time; that’s saying a lot for someone who was never crazy about sailing! But Carole, and her crew have made a convert of me. They are the perfect hosts for a smooth, safe sail around the harbor, all the while serving yummy refreshments, sharing their knowledge of San Diego Bay and landmarks, and making us all feel so at home. I highly recommend this for a wonderful sailing experience.read more
Mary Young
Mary Young
16:17 24 Apr 14
Had a fabulous time on the Jada celebrating my 60th birthday with a... costumed Pirate Party! It turned out to be a beautiful day for sailing, and many of my 24 swashbuckling guests all said it was the most fun birthday party they ever attended! The captain and crew were very accommodating in every way, from giving us the safety talk, to serving refreshments, to making sure everyone was safe on board while we were having fun sailing. I couldn't have wished for a better way to celebrate this milestone birthday, proving that, at any age, we're all still kids at heart! It was just the perfect day in every way!read more
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Sail Jada Charters
5.0
Based on 50 Reviews
Katie C.
Katie C.
2019-06-29 11:37:00
We sailed aboard Jada for the second time after an amazing sail last year.... Carole and her attentive, fact-filled and caring staff again provided a lovely,...read more
Pam S.
Pam S.
2019-06-26 19:17:21
Great Trip. Extraordinary sailboat. Nice Winds. Yummy food. Fun Crew. Good... tour.read more
Nick G.
Nick G.
2018-05-14 13:48:58
I just want to take a moment to thank Sal Jada for an absolutely amazing... experience. They took 13 of us out on an awesome adventure for my buddy's Bachelor...read more
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