Our 2025 American Spirit Schooner Sails Event Calendar will be updated by mid-March 2025. Please check back here for information and registration! Thank You!

Sunset Sails on the American Spirit

Sunset Sails (May - October)

2025 Sunset Sail Cruises:

May 16th -September 5th:  6:00 PM - 9:00 PM (Boarding check-in at 5:30 PM.)

September 19th & October 3rd:  5:00 PM - 8:00 PM (Boarding check-in at 4:30 PM.)

Ticket Prices:

Non-Members: 

• Individual cruise tickets are $75 per person. Great for visitors to DC!

DC Sail Members:

• Cruises are offered at a discount for active DC Sail Members and up to a maximum of three guests! The reduced cost is just $25 per person. You'll need to be logged into your DC Sail member account to receive the discount.

Registration: Please scroll down to the red box below and then select the link for the sail you wish to attend and proceed with registration.

Helpful Information:

Food & Beverage: We do not offer food and beverage service on board for purchase. You're encouraged to bring along a picnic and drinks (beer/wine are permitted - no spirits, please.) Keep your menu super simple such as sandwiches/snacks.  You are welcome to bring along a small hand-held cooler or cooler bag if needed for your food/beverage.  Crew will have supplemental ice on board during the sail to add to your cooler if needed.

Little Sailors: Children are most welcome! You'll need to purchase a ticket for them, infants included. Strollers are permitted. Our Crew will stow the strollers below decks during the sail. There is no power available during the sail, so please be prepared with supplies for your children as we do not have the ability to warm food or bottles.

Restroom: There is a unisex restroom on board. We also have a foot pump non-contact hand washing station on board the boat.

What to Wear/Bring: You may wish to bring along a lap blanket and be sure to dress for the weather. Even in summer, it can be cooler on the water, so bring along a jacket or sweater if needed. Wear closed-toe, soft soled shoes. Sandals, flip-flops, heels, or wedges are not permitted. This policy is for passenger safety. While you are not required to wear a life jacket during the sail, we have a full inventory of life jackets on board the boat if they are needed.

Location: Please click here to view a map of our dock location. The address is The Wharf Marina, 650 Wharf Street SW, Washington, DC 20024. You can also download a .pdf of our dock location that has a link to the Google Map by clicking here.

Sailing Area: American Spirit is located at The Wharf on the Washington Channel. We sail down to the confluence of the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers and typically sail south on the Potomac River toward Old Town Alexandria or National Harbor. It takes about 90 minutes to reach that area and we then swing around and return to our docks to complete the three-hour sail. We can sail up the Anacostia River to the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge but not beyond due to her tall masts that won'd clear the bridge.

Please Note: We are unable to sail close to the Mall/Monuments due to the bridges on the Potomac River. The sailing area we access is quite beautiful and we've never had a complaint! 

Cancellation: If severe weather (thunderstorms, excessive winds, etc.) prevents us from being able to safely leave the docks, we will issue a cancellation and full refund of your purchase. Please be advised that we will not cancel in the event of light rain/mist. Rain gear/poncho is then suggested. Cancellation notices are sent out via email typically two hours prior to the planned departure time.

Payment Information: Full payment must be made at the time of registration. Pending registrations without payment will be auto-cancelled by the system after 15 minutes. Please have your payment information available at the time of registration.

Captain and Crew look forward to welcoming you aboard, "American Spirit!" 

*Photos courtesy of Captain Patrick Freeman.