This wasn't exactly what I expected. Yes, you are taken out into the bay on a big boat that has sails, but you are not being taken for a "sail". Rather the captain essentially ignores the sails - no sail trimming is ever done - and makes lots of use of the engine and thrusters to overcome the seldom - appropriate sail trim. There was a nice breeze, and lots of sailboats out - at one point the breeze freshened and there were whitecaps visible - so it's not like a "sorry we can't control the wind - had to use the motor" scenario. Schooners don't need big crews - and the boat was clearly designed for easy sail trimming, yet at no point on the trip did anyone touch a line except to raise and lower the sails. I wanted to see this thing SAILED! Schooners like this are fast and weatherly, but we plodded along, sails stalled based on the telltales on the sails, sometimes barely making way -until the engine again was felt reverberating. The crew was pleasant, but didn't seem to know much about the area. We went under the Pell Bridge - a marvelous bit of engineering - without comment.
Yeah, sure, it's "safer" just to keep the booms amidships, so no one gets accidentally knocked in the head and rely on the motor - but had I known this, I wouldn't have booked.
So, yes, it's always nice to be on the water, and my wife enjoyed being on the boat, but don't expect any excitement or much in the way of sailing..