Discover Sunset Sailing Marina del Rey: What to Expect

Your First Sunset Sail in Marina del Rey: What to Expect on a Discover Sailing Cruise

There is a moment — right around the time the sun dips toward the Pacific and the marina lights begin to flicker on — when you realize that standing at the helm of a 40-foot ocean-going sailboat was never as far out of reach as you thought. That moment happens every Wednesday evening on Paddle Method’s Discover Sailing cruise, and it might just be the most memorable three hours you spend on the water this summer.

If you have ever watched a sailboat glide out of the marina and thought “I wish I knew how to do that” — this is your invitation. No experience required. No sailing resume needed. Just a sense of curiosity and a willingness to feel the call of the water.

Who Is This For?

Discover Sailing was built for the curious beginner — the person who has always been drawn to the ocean but never had a proper, welcoming on-ramp into the world of sailing. It is equally perfect for anyone who has dabbled in sailing before and wants to reconnect with that feeling in a structured, low-pressure environment.

Whether you are a local Angeleno looking for a new Wednesday-night ritual, a visitor wanting to experience Los Angeles from the water, or someone in the middle of a life transition searching for something genuinely new — this three-hour cruise was designed with you in mind.

The Boat: A 40-Foot Ocean-Going Blue Water Cruiser

This is not a party pontoon or a tourist ferry. You will be stepping aboard a serious, ocean-ready blue water cruiser — the kind of vessel built to cross oceans. She is comfortable, stable, and impressive, with enough deck space to move around, learn, and take in the scenery without feeling crowded.

Your captain holds an OUPV license and brings decades of time on the water, including years of teaching sailing through the American Sailing Academy. You are in extraordinarily capable hands — and you will feel that the moment you step aboard.

What Actually Happens During the Three Hours

This is not a passive sunset cruise where you sip a drink and watch someone else do all the work. Discover Sailing is hands-on from the start. Here is a feel for how the evening unfolds:

Departure and Orientation

You will meet at the marina, get a quick orientation on the boat, and learn a few basics of seamanship before you leave the dock. Your captain sets a warm, encouraging tone from the first minute — there are no dumb questions here, and every question you ask makes you a better sailor.

Hoisting the Sail

One of the genuine highlights of the evening is getting your hands on the lines and helping hoist the mainsail. There is something deeply satisfying — almost primal — about pulling a sail up and watching it fill with wind. Your captain walks you through it step by step, and yes, you will actually do it yourself.

Getting Behind the Wheel

This is the part people talk about for weeks afterward. You will take the helm. You will steer a 40-foot sailboat through the open water of Santa Monica Bay with the coastline of Los Angeles stretching out around you and the sun painting the sky in shades of amber and gold. It is one of those experiences that quietly rewires something in you.

Basic Seamanship and Navigation

Your captain weaves in real knowledge throughout the cruise — how to read the wind, how points of sail work, how to communicate on deck. You leave with a genuine foundation, not just a fun memory. Many guests find themselves thinking about their next sail before they even step off the boat.

The Setting: Marina del Rey at Sunset

Marina del Rey is the largest man-made small-craft harbor in the United States, and sailing out of it at sunset is genuinely spectacular. As you clear the breakwater and the open water of Santa Monica Bay opens up in front of you, the skyline of Los Angeles glows behind you, Malibu stretches to the north, and the Channel Islands sit on the horizon like a postcard.

This is Los Angeles from an angle most people never get to see. Live life on the water — and on a Wednesday evening, this is exactly what that looks like.

Pricing and Booking

Discover Sunset Sailing is priced at $250 per person, or $400 for two people. Private charters are also available for groups, special occasions, corporate events, or anyone who wants the boat to themselves for a truly custom experience.

Cruises run on Wednesday evenings at sunset — a perfect midweek reset that reminds you why living in Los Angeles is extraordinary.

A Few Practical Things to Know

• No experience necessary. The cruise is designed from the ground up for first-timers.
• Dress in layers. Evenings on the water can be cooler than you expect, even in summer. Bring a light jacket.
• Arrive a few minutes early. It gives you time to get comfortable on the boat before departure.
• Bring your curiosity. The more questions you ask, the more you get out of the experience.
• Spots are limited. This is an intimate experience by design — book ahead to secure your place.

Why Paddle Method Runs This Cruise

Since 2010, Paddle Method founder Tim Sanford has been turning people into paddlers — introducing thousands of people from all backgrounds and all corners of the world to the joy and transformation that comes from spending time on the water. The Discover Sailing series is a natural extension of that mission.

The water has a way of quieting the noise of everyday life. Whether you are on a paddleboard in the marina or at the helm of a sailboat in the open bay, something shifts. You become more present. More capable. More alive. That is what we are here for.

Ready to feel it for yourself? Book your Discover Sailing cruise now →

Frequently Asked Questions