Private Sailing Charters in Charleston, SC | Everything Zen Sailing

You’ll be sailing aboard a 2021, 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom yacht that’s cruised the Bahamas, Florida, and the East Coast. Explore the boat and find your favorite spot: the rooftop Zen Deck settee with room for 6 (arguably Charleston’s most underrated rooftop hangout), an air conditioned inside salon, main table for 6 and galley, a cushioned bow and trampoline area, and a covered rear outdoor seating area, with three separate tables that seat up to six. Every sail is staffed by the yacht’s owners, Todd and Kathy, your USCG licensed captain and crew. Your private sail typically runs 2.5 hours and covers the full Charleston Harbor, with Todd and Kathy sharing stories about life aboard, local history, and current happenings around the city along the way.....and where to find the best meal. Longer charters are available, and if nothing’s booked right after yours, we can sometimes extend your time on the water for $250 per added hour. We’re BYOB-friendly, glass bottles allowed, and will expertly plate and serve any food you bring aboard. Optional catering can be arranged through our local partners, and ask us about Kathy's on board optional offerings such as charcuterie boards, caviar, or other light bites. You’ll also have a full sound system you can control from your phone and a TV on board.

We offer sunset sails and daytime sails. Typical is 2.5 hours and minimum is 2 hours, max is 6. If you’re celebrating something special like a proposal, birthday, or anniversary, just let the us know and we will make sure to create the experience you are looking for!

Up to 6 guests per charter, per Coast Guard regulations. Every booking is fully private. We never combine groups or run shared charters. The boat is yours for the entire sail.

You can cancel up to 48 hours before your charter at no charge. Cancellations within 48 hours will result in the full charter amount being charged. If the captain cancels due to weather, there is no charge to you.

Safety and enjoyment come first. The captain monitors conditions closely on sailing days and will reach out a few hours before your sail if anything looks questionable. Please don't look too hard at advanced forecasts as percent chance of rain is often not a good barometer of the weather on Charleston Harbor during your planned sail. Cancellations for weather are rare, and often we can arrange another time. The captain will be responsible for cancelling due to weather. There is no charge if we have to cancel for weather and can't arrange to reschedule.

It’s unlikely. The catamaran design and Charleston Harbor’s protected waters make for a smooth, stable ride. If anyone in your group is prone to motion sickness, let the captain know ahead of time. We have some options to stay in even calmer waters, and have some sea sickness bands and other aides.

The Leopard 42 has both fully covered and shaded indoor and outdoor spaces. Bring sunscreen, just skip the spray or aerosol kind as it can stain surfaces. Hold onto your hats on breezy days.

Yes, Sail and Stay! We have 3 Vacation Rentals in the Charleston area, all with great outside spaces that are also pet friendly and close to the Marina. We have a 2,3 and 4 bedroom option in Mt. Pleasant and Park Circle. Check them out at Everything Zen Stays and use code "BookDirect" to get 10% off.

Yes. The captain and crew have years of experience on the water, including boating safety courses, Sailing certifications and 10 years as a licensed captain. The vessel has passed an on-site US Coast Guard Auxiliary safety inspection and is equipped with advanced radar, VHF radio, and AIS navigation technology. Advanced lifejackets/PFDs in both adult and children’s sizes are on board. We also have a dinghy, life raft and a BoatUS membership that can provide assistance should we need it.

No. Our insurance doesn’t permit swimming off the vessel due to wind and current conditions in the harbor. If a swim is on your itinerary, there is a resort pool at our marina that is open to our guests before or after your sail.

If you had a great time, absolutely. 20% is standard for charter crews.

The Estelle Agency has put us on the social media map! Check them out! The Estelle Agency

Definitely. This is a talented bunch that have all shot on Zen: Haleigh McCarthy Maggie Wilcox Sarah Goldman Amy Quinn Hill

We get that question a lot! ⚓️📺 Charleston and Bravo seem to go hand-in-hand—and over the years, Everything Zen Sailing has been lucky enough to become part of the fun. We’ve welcomed some familiar faces from Below Deck Sailing Yacht aboard as guest crew, including Chief Stew Daisy Kelliher, Chase Lemacks, and Madison Stalker. If you’re a Below Deck fan, you never know who might show up on the dock! Everything Zen has also been used for filming by two of Bravo’s Charleston-based shows, Southern Charm and Southern Hospitality, giving our boat a little screen time of its own. And if you’re a serious Below Deck fan, check out our friends Sarah and Kelli at the Above Deck Podcast. They cover all things Below Deck, interview cast members, and have even joined us aboard Everything Zen for some Charleston sailing adventures. Also! Up and Adam podcast on YouTube for all things Bravo. He delivers the T! So no, we’re not secretly a Bravo production company 😂—we just seem to have found ourselves in the middle of a pretty fun Bravo universe.

Yes, here you are, but know that its always more financially advantageous to book direct through this website, more flexibility and better communication flow.

You can find us on Boat Booker, Kayak, Viator, Get my Boat and Boatsetter

Yes, Coastline Coaches is a luxury Charleston area transport company that is owned and operated by a Mother Daughter duo that is first rate. Great reviews by our guests! Coastline Coaches

Not quite yet but certainly considering it. We may offer 2 day excursions to some of the Charleston area outer islands in the spring and fall 2027. Let us know if you have some potential interest in experiencing a night at anchor under the stars with all of the comforts of home.