Take a tour around the largest man-made marina in the world. Marina del Rey is homeport to over 6,000 private yachts, many owned by famous celebrities. John Travolta's classic yacht "Elegante", Florence Henderson's "Big Flo III", and Johnny Carson's fabulous $14M megayacht "Serengeti" may be viewed. See Fisherman's Village and the fine restaurants from a sailboat's perspective. Harbor seals are always seen swimming near the live bait depot. Pelicans also make this their favorite hangout. Ubiquitous sea gulls are observed swarming around the fishing boats. These two-hour tours are perfect for first dates, birthdays, bar mitzvahs, bachelor/bachelorette parties - you name it.
Take in the sights of the harbor. Then enjoy a beautiful sunset at anchor while a sumptuous feast is served. All dinners are homemade by Captain Larry who is a gourmet chef. Grilled entrees such as barbequed chicken breasts, country spare ribs, and filet mignon are grilled to order. Live lobsters are steamed on the boat. These dinner cruises are normally two hours and do not include any sailing - unless you bring your own dinners. If you would like to have Captain Larry prepare your dinner and do some sailing, the four-hour tour is recommended.
Soak up the warm California sunshine and work on that tan while the spray hits your face. See pelicans diving after fish. California sea lions and harbor seals are always seen basking in the sun on buoys in Santa Monica Bay. Watch dolphins swimming and leaping in the bow wave. You can almost reach down and pet them.
Take in all these sights while making 8 knots under full sail! Carmina Mare has a wonderful easy motion at sea. It is truly smooth sailing at its finest. If you desire, sailing instructions are offered. You may also take a trick at the helm and help trim the sails. Lunches and/or dinners prepared onboard are available.
Few things are more romantic than watching the moon shimmer on the water while silently making way under sail. Seeing the stars at sea and all the city lights surrounding Santa Monica Bay is delightful. If you're lucky, glowing green phosphorescence can be seen stirred up by the marine life. Since the captain lives aboard, he can take people out whenever the moon is up.
"Thar she blows!" Watch California Grey whales and other whale species during their annual migration to Mexico. Pods of whales are sighted off the coast of California from January through the end of March. Reaching lengths of 60 feet, these animals are truly awesome.
"I got one!" Deep sea fishing is yet another sport enjoyed on a sailboat. Sardines or anchovies can be purchased on the way out of the marina. The built-in bait tank will keep them alive and fresh for the day. Trolling is another way to catch fish. This method simply involves dragging a tasty-looking lure behind the boat while underway. The aft cockpit on Carmina Mare is ideal for reeling in the big ones.
Dive off the boat and have an invigorating swim in clear blue water at one of the islands. Snorkeling and scuba diving is also enjoyed on these multi-day trips to Santa Catalina Island or any of the other Channel Islands off the coast of Southern California. Explore kelp forests and search for abalone and lobsters. Carmina Mare features a swim platform with a ladder to make boarding easy. And the hot water shower on the platform feels great after a swim.
While visiting one of the islands, you might want to get a better view from the top. All of the channel islands have hiking trails for exploring. Tours by the park ranger are offered at some of the islands. Camping is allowed with reservations at some of the islands.
© CaptLarry.com
All Rights Reserved