Sailing in LA

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curve

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Just found out I have to spend the next six months in LA. :eek:

I know it is by the sea but is there a sailing scene at all. Do they have boats/yachts? Will I look out of place in my white slacks and blazer? :confused: Fingers crossed they won't all wear crocs.

Also I have a keel boat to take with me. I'm guessing sailing it over is out of the question so maybe container or air freight. How long would that take?
 
I once worked for a company with HQ in LA so I've been lucky enough to visit many times.

No real difference to any marina near you. There are some breathtaking palaces for the rich and famous and there's a few MAB's. Subjectively, I'd say that Mobo's outnumber AWB's.

Santa Monica, in the north, is very up-market. My personal favourite is Portofino at Redondo Beach. A couple of hundred metres away at the Pier there's some real junk floating. Heading south, San Pedro has more of an industrial feel as it's a major port and an oil terminus.

Many of the people I used to work with would sail for a couple of hours in the evening or, at the right season, would go drifting in the bay whale watching. Pretty envious stuff if you live in Manchester with a boat in north Wales.

Christmas time at Portofino is fantastic, many owners dress their vessels with lights (done with more taste than the average UK house spectacle!)

I seem to recall that the Pacific swell was ever-present and not particularly pleasant.

Hope you enjoy it!
 
I have sailed from Marina Del Rey (Santa Monica area) and also from (I think, can't really remember) Redondo Beach. Marina Del Rey is a huge marina (like massive) but very similar to any large (very large) European Marina. As you would expect there are a lot of places to visit for eating etc... but to be honest out on the water I found it a wee bit boring. At the end of the day it's just a big coastline and doesn't have the interest inherant in say a group of Islands. In saying that the weather is magic and the there is plenty to do and amuse yourself with, so depending on what you are after it can be great. I am sure you will enjoy it as it's a great bit of the world out there and there is something for everyone.
 
I am at 'home' in the LA area right now...

My room mate and another friend here belong to a local sailing club and despite being a Limey MOB I have always been made to feel very welcome.

There are some lovely places to sail to around here - I guess most are in easy distance for a day trip, espcially with the winds we've been having the last couple of days!

I wonder if it is worth shipping your boat here for 6 months though? We have never been short of offers for trips on other people's boats.

W.
 
Thanks very much for the info. I will check out some of the places mentioned later. All been a bit hectic today as I fly out on Saturday. I have a house arranged in Bel Air - no idea yet how far that is from the seaside. :)
 
perhaps you'd like to join the sailing anarchy forum,
a lot of violent poseurs on it will never get out of the school playground
but it will let you know whats happening
 
A house in Bel Air! Last time I drove through the place there was nothing as common as a house! Palace, mansion, maybe. House, certainly not.

Don't know what you do for a living but I'm impressed.

Marina Del Ray is most definitely the place for you.

Hope you enjoy you stay.
 
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