The Experience

Wild Hearts is a Gold Coast 53-foot catamaran sailboat designed for open-ocean sailing. Public cruises and private sailing charters depart from Orange Beach, Perdido Key, and Gulf Shores.

Built in St. Croix USVI, this US Coast Guard certified vessel is made of strip planked cedar and epoxy for unrelenting strength and durability. Her spacious decks and cabin spaces are designed to provide you with premium comfort as we ride the cresting waves. With a mast that rises 53ft in the air and a sail area of over 1000 square feet, she will easily whisk you away at double digit speeds – even as her wide 30-foot beam ensures you have a safe, smooth, and seaworthy sail.

Since our maiden voyage, Sail Wild Hearts has set our sights on nautical adventures that make the best sailing experiences on the Alabama Gulf Coast. Founded by Ted Scarrit, a lifelong community champion, Sail Wild Hearts is more than just a sailing excursion—it’s a labor of love for all things coastal. With the help of our sister companies, Perdido Beach Services and Parasail Sky Surfer, Ted has spent over 40 years working to protect, explore and enhance our coastal landscapes for all to enjoy. From beach cleanup services to teaching kids and families how to surf, he lives out his passions every day on the beaches of Perdido Key, Orange Beach, and Gulf Shores.

This commitment to coastal excellence has created a dedicated crew of employees, many who have been with Ted for decades, who help run a tight ship and ensure smooth sailing across all three of our businesses. We’re proud to have won Best in Baldwin’s Best Boat Tour every year since 2017, a testament to our great service and the support of our local community. Whether you’re a local or a visitor, join us for a beach adventure that’s sure to be the highlight of your day.

Captain Zach Smith – also known as Captain Zach “Sparrow” – may not be a pirate, but he shares the love of wind, salt and sea that often lies in a sailor’s heart.

Zach is a homegrown ‘Bama boy raised in Auburn, Alabama. Alabama fans beware: Capt. Zach may make you walk the plank.

Feeling the pull to explore island life, Capt. Zach eventually moved to the Virgin Islands. He spent five years in St. John where he spent his spare time learning to sail, paddleboard, dive and wind surf. He loved it so much that when he finally headed back to Alabama, he sought out a job that would keep him on the water. His coastal home took some of the stress out of his search – at his first job interview he was told to sail a small Hobie Cat through the beach surf and back again. He sailed through with flying colors and has never looked back.

Today, Captain Zach spends his days sailing Wild Hearts around the spectacular waters of Orange Beach and Perdido Key. He knows the local waters and enjoys introducing people to his passion for sailing. He and his crew welcome you aboard and sincerely hope you have an adventure you’ll keep in your heart forever.

When asked why he sails Captain Zach answers, “Sailing gives me such freedom; I feel at home on the water, and it is never the same twice.”

Brittney Vandiver has been with the crew of the Wild Hearts since the 2020 season. She earned her status as a boating and tourism industry veteran long ago. The daughter of a boat captain, life on the water came naturally. Brittney could be found tagging along with her father at the marina while still in diapers. She began her journey as a deckhand in 1999 at the age of 12 by helping her parents start a dining and dolphin cruise business in Orange Beach, Alabama.

Brittney is married with two children. Avery, her son, is 11, and her daughter, Haley, is 7. Her husband, Daniel, unsurprisingly is also a U.S. Coast Guard licensed captain. Brittney was born and raised on the Gulf Coast. Boating and the Gulf of Mexico are deeply rooted parts of her life. Helping guests experience the joy of boating, and the beauty of the Gulf Coast is what makes her the happiest.