San Francisco Bay water can be bottle-green in the sun, and lapis-blue in the shade of the Golden Gate Bridge. The other side of Alcatraz Island is like the other side of the Moon. It can be seen only from the water if you traverse close enough to observe the ghosts of former penitentiary admin buildings and the remaining posted signs warning “persons procuring or concealing escape of prisoners” about the dire consequences.Bay Voyager is the newest kid on the block that operates RIB (rigid inflatable boat) tours all over the Bay.
On our maiden voyage, a group of San Francisco reporters was treated to an educational tour by the company owner, Captain Charles Jennings, who comes from a family with 300 years of maritime history, and has served as First Officer on the Hornblower cruises among his many other jobs at the sea.Our boat was bright-yellow 28' Northwind Custom RIB built in Seattle, WA, by Northwind Marine. Small size, maneuverability, and higher speed of the vessel similar to those used by Navy Seals, allows for unprecedented discoveries around the City by the Bay, it’s bridges, islands, and docked historic ships.
Behold SS Jeremiah O’Brien, a WWII Liberty Ship, moored at Pier 45, now open to the public as the National Liberty Ship Memorial. Captain Jennings served on Jeremiah O’Brien during the vessel’s 50th anniversary return to Normandy in 1994.
Within the next 15 minutes of our tour, we encountered a Celebrity Cruises vessel making a stop in San Francisco.
Beyond the Bay Bridge we saw Captain V. Livanos, a massive cargo ship from Nassau, ready to anchor at the Port of Oakland.
On our trip, we cruised around Yerba Buena Island with a picturesque lighthouse over massive cliffs; sailed past young and curious sea lions resting on a buoy with a tolling fog bell; and drifted by the AT&T Ballpark in time for the last in season game by the San Francisco Giants.Bay Voyager offers several trips that can be reserved for groups from 4 to 12 on different days of the week. There are Bay Highlights, cruising past the San Francisco downtown area, Marina and North Beach; Bay Hopping, adding Alameda/Oakland estuary and USS Potomac (FDR’s presidential yacht); and 49 Mile Bay Crossing, expanding to the four major bridges in the San Francisco Bay and around two lighthouses.
Among the other highlights of Bay Voyager pre-planned and customized cruises are: Hyde St. Pier National Historic Maritime Park, USS Pompanito (WWII Submarine), Fort Baker, Fort Mason, The Palace of Fine Arts, The Presidio, Fort Point (Civil War fortress), Treasure Island, Angel Island, Sausalito, Tiburon, San Quentin State Prison, San Francisco Dry Dock/Hunters Point Ship Yard, Ferry Building (built in 1896), Transamerica pyramid, Coit Tower, and the future home to the America’s Cup.Returning back, there are other views to behold – man-made Forbes Island and famous Pier 39 resident sea lions.
For reservations and additional information, please call 510-542-4200 or visit www.bayvoyager.com.
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