Five years of sailing, countless memories, and a chart filled with adventures. As Rabbit Hole enters her sixth year, we're looking back at the places she's traveled, the people who've sailed aboard, and all the stories still waiting to be written.
Every boat leaves a wake.
Most disappear within moments, fading into the water behind us.
But some leave tracks that tell a much bigger story.
Recently, we had an opportunity to look back at Rabbit Hole's AIS tracking history, and what started as a collection of lines on a chart quickly became something much more meaningful.
There they were.
Years of adventures, winding their way across San Francisco Bay, through familiar channels, into quiet anchorages, and beyond the Golden Gate.
Some tracks were short.
Others stretched far beyond the places we sail every day.
And each one represented a day, a crew, a destination, or a memory.
Five years of sailing. So many stories. And we're only getting started.
Every Adventure Has a Beginning
Rabbit Hole officially became part of our lives on July 7, 2021.
Our beautiful 2021 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 410 opened the door to an entirely new chapter of adventures, friendships, learning, and discovery.
But her story began even before Gotcha Day.
Built by Jeanneau in France, Rabbit Hole made her way across the ocean before becoming the boat we know and love today.
That first chapter isn't captured in the AIS history we're sharing here.
The tracks begin in 2022, so they don't tell the entire story of where she's been.
But they certainly tell a wonderful story about where we've gone together.
And looking at them now, it's hard not to smile.
Following the Tracks
At first glance, the AIS image is simply a map.
Lines crossing the Bay.
Routes connecting familiar destinations.
Tracks stretching out into the Pacific.
But spend a little time looking at it, and those lines start bringing back memories.
You remember the crew aboard.
The weather that day.
The conversations in the cockpit.
The excitement of reaching a destination.
The challenge of a new experience.
Or perhaps the satisfaction of returning home after a particularly memorable sail.
The chart doesn't capture the laughter, the learning, or the friendships.
But it reminds us where those moments happened.
And that makes it something pretty special.
Five Years of Tracks: 2022–2026
Each year's tracks tell a slightly different story. Some show familiar routes around San Francisco Bay. Others reach far beyond the Golden Gate and along the California coast.
Together, they offer a wonderful look at how Rabbit Hole's adventures have evolved.
And 2026? That chart certainly looks busy!
2022: The Adventures Begin
2023: Exploring Farther
2024: New Routes, Familiar Waters
2025: The Journey Continues
2026: What a Year!
Looking at these five years side by side, one thing stands out. The 2026 tracks appear especially concentrated around the Bay, reflecting just how much activity Rabbit Hole has enjoyed this season.
Of course, AIS images alone don't tell us exactly how many miles were sailed or how many outings took place. But they certainly give us a wonderful visual reminder of the places we've been.
Some of Our Favorite Places Along the Way
Over the years, Rabbit Hole has explored some wonderful destinations.
Each has its own personality, and each has contributed to the stories we've collected along the way.
San Francisco Bay: Our Backyard Playground
There is a reason we never get tired of sailing San Francisco Bay.
From the busy waters around Alameda to the spectacular views of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Bay offers endless variety.
Some days are all about enjoying the breeze and covering miles.
Others are about practicing maneuvers, building confidence, or simply sharing a beautiful day with friends.
The conditions are always changing, and there is always something new to learn.
Even after years of sailing here, the Bay continues to surprise us.
Angel Island and Ayala Cove: A Place to Gather
Some destinations are memorable not because of how far away they are, but because of the people who meet you there.
Angel Island and Ayala Cove have provided wonderful opportunities to gather with fellow sailors, enjoy time ashore, and share the experience of arriving somewhere by boat.
There is something special about looking around an anchorage and recognizing the boats and people who have become part of your sailing community.
The destination is beautiful.
The company makes it even better.
Petaluma and the Petaluma River: The Journey Is the Adventure
Sailing up the Petaluma River offers an entirely different perspective.
The scenery changes, the pace shifts, and the journey becomes as memorable as the destination.
River cruising calls for a different kind of attention and preparation than an afternoon on the open Bay.
There are tides to consider, routes to plan, and the satisfaction of exploring somewhere that feels a world away from our usual sailing grounds.
It is one of those adventures that reminds us how much variety is waiting just beyond our familiar routes.
Beyond the Golden Gate: A Bigger Horizon
And then there are the tracks that continue west.
Beyond the Golden Gate, the familiar waters of the Bay give way to the Pacific Ocean.
For sailors developing their passage-making experience, venturing outside the Gate represents an exciting next step.
Preparation becomes even more important.
Weather, swell, currents, timing, crew readiness, and contingency planning all take on greater significance.
We worked hard to make approved Out-the-Gate sailing opportunities possible for Rabbit Hole, and the experiences have been tremendously rewarding.
Seeing sailors return with new confidence, new stories, and enormous smiles has made that effort worthwhile.
The Farallon Islands: A Memorable Destination
Farther offshore, the Farallon Islands stand as one of the most recognizable destinations beyond the Golden Gate.
Their rugged presence is a reminder that the Pacific offers an entirely different kind of adventure from the protected waters of the Bay.
For sailors who have made the journey, the experience becomes another memorable track on the chart and another story to share.
The People Behind the Tracks
Of course, the most important part of Rabbit Hole's story isn't the places she's been.
It's the people who have sailed aboard.
Over the years, Rabbit Hole has welcomed family, friends, students, racers, and fellow adventurers.
Some came aboard to learn something new.
Some came to practice and build confidence.
Some came for the thrill of a great sailing day.
Others simply wanted to enjoy time on the water with people they love.
There have been milestones, celebrations, new friendships, familiar faces, and plenty of moments that remind us why sailing brings people together.
Every crew has left something behind.
A memory.
A lesson.
A laugh.
A story.
And somewhere among those lines on the chart, one of those tracks might be yours.
Into Our Sixth Year
When we welcomed Rabbit Hole in July 2021, we knew we were beginning an adventure.
What we couldn't have imagined was how many people would become part of it.
Now, as we sail into our sixth year together, Rabbit Hole has become much more than a boat.
She's been a classroom, a gathering place, a gateway to new experiences, and the setting for countless wonderful memories.
And in 2026, the journey took another exciting turn as Rabbit Hole Sailing began welcoming sailors through our own independent charter operations.
It feels fitting that a boat named Rabbit Hole has continued to lead us toward unexpected opportunities.
A little curiosity can take you a very long way.
The Best Tracks Are Still Ahead
Looking at five years of AIS history is a wonderful reminder of how far we've traveled.
But the part we're most excited about isn't behind us.
It's what's still ahead.
New destinations.
New sailors.
New friendships.
New skills.
And new stories that haven't been written yet.
We hope you'll be part of them.
Maybe you've sailed aboard Rabbit Hole before.
Maybe you recognize a favorite destination on the chart.
Maybe you were part of one of those adventures.
Or maybe your first Rabbit Hole experience is still waiting.
Wherever you are in your sailing journey, there's always another adventure around the corner.
Find your next adventure.
Wonder awaits. Seize it.
A Little Something from the Captain's Cup
Our latest Captain's Cup creation, The Jabberwocky, is a warm, spiced fall cocktail inspired by cooler evenings, apple cider, bourbon, ginger, and a touch of dark berries.
It's made for those moments after the sails come down, when the boat is secure and the day's adventures become stories worth retelling.
To the tracks behind us, the adventures ahead, and the courage to keep heading toward the blank spaces on the chart.