Unforgettable hands-on sailing for the whole family! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Sailing with Captain Ward on Aura was easily the highlight of our trip to Orcas Island. We were a 6-person group ranging in age from 3 to 65+, and Captain Ward made every single one of us feel completely welcome, safe, and entertained.He’s remarkably patient and knowledgeable—not only about sailing, but about local history and geography as well. He even used his local knowledge of the area to make sure our kiddo got to see seals, which made their day! What made the trip so special was how hands-on it was: he gave everyone who wanted a turn a chance to take the tiller and help work the sails. It’s a wonderful, personal experience on a stunning vintage boat. Highly recommend to anyone visiting Orcas Island!

Wow! We loved our day out on the water with Northwest Classic Daysailing. Captain Ward was incredible with our two young kiddos, who were sailing for the first time, encouraging them to steer, pull ropes, crank in the sail, and even turn on and off the motor. We felt lucky to make a reservation the afternoon before our outing. Wecannot recommend highly enough.

Captain Ward made for a fantastic day on the water. He was knowledgeable, informative, and a pleasure to sail with. He quickly realized we enjoyed sailing ourselves and struck the perfect balance between offering guidance and letting us take the helm. Along the way, he shared interesting insights about Orcas Island, the surrounding waters, and local history that made the experience even more enjoyable. It was a perfect afternoon of sailing, and we would highly recommend Captain Ward to anyone looking for an authentic and memorable experience.

For the price and the experience, you simply can’t pass this up! We had a fantastic three-hour sail with Northwest Classic. Captain Ward took our group of six out of Deer Harbor for a 6 p.m. sail, and it couldn’t have been better. Half of our group had previous sailing experience, while the other half were complete beginners. It was the perfect introduction to sailing for the newbies and a wonderful way for all of us to experience the beauty of the islands. We’ll definitely book again!

I recently took my wife and parents on a sail with Captain Ward, and it was an absolute blast! It was a fantastic way to start a relaxing morning. The value for money was incredible. I would recommend limiting the number of adults to 4 (plus the Captain) as it might get a bit crowded otherwise.