Sail Austin Charters is a private yacht charter service located in the heart of the Texas Hill Country on Lake Travis, with two locations — South Shore at Hurst Harbor Marina (the same marina referenced by “True North Charters” and “Captain Verde’s Party Boats,” both researched earlier this session) and North Shore at Northshore Marina in Jonestown. Top-rated on TripAdvisor from 2015-2024, the business is led by Captain Tim Best, a master sailor genuinely known for both exciting, adrenaline-filled sails and relaxing, personalized cruises.

Private Charters put the entire largest sailing yacht on Lake Travis under Captain Tim’s care for an hourly, fully customizable experience — sail, anchor, swim, sunbathe, whatever the group wants — genuinely distinct from a party barge, offering the best sailing experience available short of a destination charter. Shared Sunset Sails run every Saturday (weather and private booking permitting), with the yacht Quintessence departing 90 minutes before sunset for a 2.5-hour cruise open to individual bookings, not just full charters. Destination Charters extend the experience internationally — the Virgin Islands, the Abacos, the Greek Islands, and Croatia — with Captain Tim personally arranging a complete turnkey cruising vacation. Boating Lessons introduce guests to sailing from scratch or help polish existing skills, with Captain Tim even guiding students toward their first boat purchase.

Guest testimonials are extraordinarily glowing, with reviewers repeatedly praising Captain Tim by name for genuine flexibility, deep local knowledge of the lake’s best spots, and thoughtful personal touches — including bringing lobster rolls aboard for a surprise 30th birthday sunset cruise, and creating a memorable bachelorette party experience complete with a floating noodle line for swimming.

For couples and groups near Austin, Texas looking for a top-rated, genuinely personal private sailing charter, shared sunset sail, or destination sailing vacation, Sail Austin Charters offers an exceptional operation with Captain Tim Best on Lake Travis.