Sail Lake Hefner, LLC

FAQ

What types of charters do you offer?

Our most popular charter is a SUNSET SAIL. This charter is available on Fridays through Sundays, lasts for 1 1/2 hours and begins about an hour before sunset. That gives us time to sail you around the lake, watch a beautiful Oklahoma sunset, and make our way back to the dock as twilight descends over the lake. How ROMANTIC!

Our newly added charter is a SUNSET/TWILIGHT SAIL. This charter is available on Fridays through Sundays, lasts for 2 hours and adds thirty minutes at the end of your Sunset Sail. This way you get to experience both the Sunset Sail and Twilight Sail on the same charter. BEST OF BOTH WORLDS!

TWILIGHT SAILS are offered on Fridays and Saturdays on full moon nights between Memorial Day and Labor Day when the weather is warm. These sails last for one hour and begin about an hour after sunset. The lake takes on a different feel after dark, and with a little imagination you might even feel like you are out at sea. They are especially wonderful when the moon is full, but just seeing the stars overhead is pretty darn special as well. How MAGICAL!

SAILS BY THE HOUR are offered before sunset during the afternoon/evening on Saturdays and Sundays. They are the most economical charters, beginning with an hour sail and increased in 30 minute increments at your request at time of booking. They are a great introduction to sailing and basically a tease which leaves you wanting to come back for another charter. How FUN!
What do I wear?

In the spring and fall, you might bring a jacket along because it's still cool on the water.

We'll ask you to remove your shoes while onboard if you're wearing high heels, or shoes with black or hard soles. Rubber soled shoes or flip flops are okay, but trust us you'll love going barefoot to get in the sailing spirit!

Ladies: if you want to go up front to sit on the bow, you might not want to wear a short skirt or dress but opt for shorts or pants instead. Just a suggestion!
How long will we sail?

Our charters are totally customizable! YOU plan how long you want to be onboard, but typical charters are one hour, 1 1/2 hours, or two hours. Take a look at our regular Available Charters and pick one that is right for you. Depending on our booking schedule, you can even extend your sailing time on the spot if you're not ready for the charter to end!
Will food and beverages be available onboard?

Complimentary bottled water will be available, and you are welcome to bring your own beverages (of any kind!) to enjoy during your charter. We have wine and champagne glasses, corkscrews and bottle openers for your use so all you need to bring is the beverage itself. We don't offer food or encourage it onboard because we don't have a dining table in the cockpit area, and food tends to get blown around when it's windy which makes it messy for everyone...yuck!

The only thing we ask is that you treat our boat as if you were a guest in our home. SAIL LAKE HEFNER's goal is to provide you with a relaxing atmosphere...it's not our intent to create a "party barge" environment or encourage those looking for a "booze cruise." Thank you for your understanding!
Can I sail the boat?

While we prefer to do all the work and let you enjoy the ride, if you are at least 16 and have sailing experience (or if you don't, are over 16, and conditions will permit) we'll let you take the helm if you like!
Where will I meet you to come onboard?

We meet our guests at the Oklahoma City Lake Hefner Marina, located on the south side of the lake just north of Northwest Expressway on Meridian. When you make a reservation you'll receive a confirmation email with step-by-step instructions on how to find us at the dock, but here's the directions as well:

1. From the intersection of Northwest Expressway and Meridian, go north on Meridian
2. At the first “Y” in the road, keep left (stay on Meridian, there will be a Stop sign right after the “Y”)
3. Continue on Meridian – you’ll see a golf course on both sides of the road
4. Take the first right (the street will not be labeled, but there’s a sign that reads “OCPD Lake Hefner Patrol”)
5. Look for a white building on the left with a watch tower on the top (the OCPD Patrol Station); turn left and park behind the patrol station on the northeast side of the building by the picnic table.
6. You‘ll see a boat ramp leading down into the water, and a dock area just to the right of that with a locked gate that’s labeled Gate 11. Walk past the locked gate and turn left to go down a ramp…we’ll be waiting for you at the dock. (It sounds more complicated than it is – if you locate the boat ramp you’ll see us at the dock!)

Or if you want to use Google Maps to find us at the dock, enter the coordinates 35 33 00.82n 97 35 51.5w
Will I get wet during the sail?

While you might get an occasional spray (which feels pretty good during the heat of the summer!), you will remain high and dry on your sail. You won't experience "wet bottom" on a 26' sailboat, unlike a hobie cat or Pico!
Will there be shade available onboard?

Our sailboat has a retractable shade cover that we can put up (called a bimini) that will cover the entire aft seating area. This really does help to keep the sun off of you during an afternoon on the lake. However, it's up to you if we put it up or not!
Will I get seasick?

Unless you are very sensitive to motion sickness, the answer is "Normally no." Sailing on Lake Hefner is totally different than sailing on a much larger body of fresh water or the ocean. We really don't experience the rolling motion caused by large waves while underway which is what makes people feel seasick. You will literally almost always experience smooth sailing!
Can the wind blow too hard to sail?

Believe it or not, yes! We can sail with wind speeds between 5 and 20 mph, but the ideal wind speeds for sailing on the lake are between 10 and 14 mph. Regardless, we know how to adapt to the wind, whether it's howling or barely blowing, to ensure your sail is just right!
Should I tip the Captain?

Our Captain and Crew provide a service for you so just like any other service industry (your barber, hair stylist, or restaurant wait staff, etc.) tipping is totally up to you, but if you felt like you received great service and would like to give them a gratuity for a job well done it's always appreciated!
Are your charters only available on weekends?

We are available only on weekends, Fridays through Sundays (this is because our Captain works a full time job during the week). However, we can sometimes be available during the week as well so if you have a very special charter planned that happens to fall on a week day just let us know and we'll see if we can make it happen!

This is dependent on the weather, of course! We will not sail if there is lightening in the area (because it's dangerous!), when it's raining (because it's not much fun!), or if it's too windy (because it's hard on our rigging).
How many people can fit on the boat?

While Dream Chaser is a large sailboat at 26', for safety reasons and to ensure our guests are comfortable and have a wonderful time we must limit our guests to a maximum of six.

We also have a weight limit and cannot exceed 1100 pounds for the combined weight of all guests onboard. We certainly won't expect you to reveal your weight to us, but your participation in meeting our safety requirements is appreciated and necessary!
Do I have to wear a life jacket?

US Coast Guard regulations require anyone under the age of 13 to wear a personal flotation device (PFD) while onboard vessels under 26'. Our sailboat is 26'3", and while technically that extra 3" means this rule does not apply to us, just to be on the safe side we ask that anyone onboard under 13 or those who can't swim to wear a PFD; however, it is still up to you or the guardian for minors. We have a very stylish (you know I'm joking about it being stylish, right?!) orange PFD for you to wear, or you may bring your own if you prefer.
Do you play music during the sail?

We've installed a wonderful new stero system with outside speakers, ipod or cell phone docking, XM satellite radio coverage, and CD capability. Feel free to bring along your own ipod or CD for a totally personalized sail! Or if you prefer just the sound of the water, we can keep it nice and quiet as well.
Will we be safe - is sailing dangerous?

As with any recreational activity, there is a varying amount of risk involved. Regardless, your safety is of primary importance and we will strive to make your charter experience as safe as possible, keeping an eye out for your safety at all times. However, we must ask our guests to sign a liability release form prior to each sail (blame this on our attorney!). This form will be emailed to you ahead of your charter for your review; you can sign it and bring it with you, or we have copies onboard as well. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.
Will I have to share my charter with strangers?

We do not have "open" charters, all of our charters are totally private...you choose who YOU want to have onboard. Sweet!