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Maui Sailing

You have several decisions when selecting a Maui sailing trip:

• What type of Sailboat - racing yacht or sailing catamaran or sailing canoe?

• Depart from which location - Lahaina, Maalaea or Kaanapali?

• Sailing only, or combine sailing with other activities - snorkeling, watching whales or dolphins or turtles, champagne and chocolates at sunset?

Scroll down to find information to help you make your decision.

Sailing on Maui Racing Yachts

Racing yachts provide a traditional Maui sailing trip. They are built for speed rather than comfort, and speed is what they deliver. You have to hang on when they make a sharp turn, and you may get wet as you race along so close to the surface of the ocean. The Scotch Mist racing yacht out of Lahaina Harbor on Maui was fast and fun.

The Scotch Mist racing yacht out of Lahaina Harbor on Maui was fast and fun.

Two racing yachts berth at Lahaina Harbor:

Pure speed is what the crew delivered on our sunset sail on the Scotch Mist, a 50 foot racing hull which won the 1984 Victoria-Maui International Yacht Race. Their speedy motto - Fast is Fun.

Enjoying a peaceful moment aboard the racing yacht America II out of Lahaina Harbor. On our morning sail on the America II, we were thrilled to sit on the same deck and sail in the same racing hull that had participated in the America's Cup in 1987.

Both of this sailing yachts have been a part of world class racing. Choose their afternoon Performance Sail when winds are highest for a unique sailing experience.

To read more about the Maui sailing yachts or to make reservations, click here to go to the Barefoot Tours website.

Select Sailing Charters from the Maui Categories dropdown list under the Maui island picture.

Barefoot Tours Maui sailing charters options Then select the America II or Scotch Mist sailboat from the box like the graphic on the right.

Or phone Barefoot Tours at 888-820-2097 to talk to a Maui sailing tour expert right now on Maui.

Tell them Randy Willis recommended you ask about their low price guarantee.

Maui Sailing Catamarans

Many Maui sailing catamarans are about 50 feet long and carry up to 50 passengers. So you will have more people around you on a catamaran than a racing yacht.

The Kapalua Kai sailing catamaran goes right onto Kaanapali Beach to load and unload passengers. Many catamarans sail out of the harbors at Maalaea and Lahaina. Some catamarans dont' bother with deep water harbors - they go right on the shore at Kaanapali Beach for you to board and exit.

Because of their wide double hull structure, sailing catamarans offer smooth sailing compared to racing yachts. The larger size and boarding platforms on cataramarans also makes them a good base for other ocean activities such as snorkeling and scuba diving.

To discover what a Maui sailing catamaran is like:
• Our early morning Dolphin Snorkel Sail on the Gemini sailing catamaran
• Our Snorkel and Whale Watch Sail on the Kapalua Kai sailing catamaran

Best Time of Day to Sail?

Most Maui sailing trips are two hours. The same Maui sailboat will often offer a morning combo activity, an afternoon Performance Sail, and an evening sunset sail.

The time of day you sail can be more important than the sailboat you select because each time offers a unique experience:

• Morning sails are usually combined with some other activity such as whale watching or snorkeling. Because there is usually not much wind early in the day, the first part of the trip will be spent motoring rather than sailing because of lack of wind and the need to perform the non-sailing activity. Sailing speeds up as the morning progresses and on the return trip. Morning sails are often discounted because most vacationers don't get up early.

• Afternoon trade winds assure faster sailing later in the day. This is the time when many sailing charters often their Performance Sail - the focus is on speed more than anything else.

• Sunset sails start fast with the strong afternoon trade winds. When the winds die down, the sailboat generally motors back to the dock.

Maui Sailing Video

The Maui sailing video below is on the America II racing yacht out of Lahaina Harbor.

Click on the PLAY button in the image below to view the video.

We have sailed on racing yachts and catamarans, from different locations on Maui, under different weather conditions and at different times of the day - and they have shared one consistent theme - we've always had fun.

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