Frequently Asked Questions

I sail from May 1st through the end of November.  If we have great weather in March and April, I am able to complete annual maintenance projects sooner and can therefore start sailing in the last third of April.  

I do not sail from December through March because it’s too cold to sail comfortably.  I want my customers to enjoy their sails! 

I never force my customers to sail in the rain but if you still do want to sail, I have a cabin and a bimini to take cover under so you’ll remain dry.  If you decide not to sail (the chance of rain must be greater than 30%, using weather.com as our source), we can try to reschedule and if we can’t find a date that works, I will give a full refund.  I also don’t force people to sail when the temperature is below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.  I will call the sail off if there is a strong threat of lightning or winds are in excess of 30 miles per hour.  

We must wait until the day of the charter (at least three hours prior to the start of the charter) to make the final decision on weather so we have the most accurate forecast.  The closer to the start of the charter that we can wait, the more accurate the forecast will be as radar projections can be used.

Chelsea Piers in Manhattan.   If you enter "Narwhal Yacht Charters" on Google Maps, you'll see my exact location.  For your reference, I am docked at a slip in MarineMax on Pier 59 (Chelsea Piers) on the Hudson River, which is the equivalent of 17th St and the West Side Highway (11th Ave).  You'll see a gate that leads to the boardwalk / marina I'm docked at, which is south (left) of the golf nets of the driving range. 

For my four hour charters, I sail as close to the Statue of Liberty as permitted, around Governor’s Island via the Buttermilk Channel, up the East River underneath the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan Bridge (and to the Williamsburg Bridge if conditions are favorable), back down the East River to round Battery Park, and the finally head up the Hudson River back to Chelsea Piers.  If you have a private charter with me, you can customize the route. 

I provide picnic sandwiches, apples, an assortment of chips, water, sodas, ice, cups, plates, bowls, utensils, and napkins.  To make the experience more special, it's not uncommon for guests to bring their own food so I encourage you to do so.  The free food I provide is meant to make you feel welcomed and to hold you over; it is not the selling point of the experience. 

 Yes, but I don’t provide alcohol. 

Yes.  I require a $300 deposit for all private charters that cost $600 or more.  For private charters that cost less than $600, I require a 50% deposit.  For non private charters, I require payment in full upfront because without the full commitment from the separate parties, I would not allow everyone to book that specific charter to begin with.

If we cancel due to bad weather, as discussed above, you will receive a full refund.  Because forecasts change constantly, we must wait until the day of the charter to make the call on potentially bad weather.  

I also allow my customers to cancel their charters at least 10 days before we set sail and fully refund the deposit in this situation as well.  The deposit is not refundable if you cancel within 10 days of the start of the charter.  This is, after all, how I make my living.

Yes.