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Step aboard as a crew member and race a performance cruiser across Marina del Rey and Santa Monica Bay. Learn tactical sail handling, gain real race experience, and come away with new skills and adrenaline-fueled memories.
Step aboard as a crew member and race a performance cruiser across Marina del Rey and Santa Monica Bay. Learn tactical sail handling, gain real race experience, and come away with new skills and adrenaline-fueled memories.
Book with Naos Yachts
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
113 ratings
Operated by Naos Yachts · Marina del Rey, California
Berger Stein Races throws you into the pulse of small-boat competition in Marina del Rey, California. From the Naos Yachts Location at 13555 Fiji Way, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292, USA, this full-day, hands-on racing experience lets you join a crew on a performance cruiser and learn how tactical sail trim, weight placement, and quick command decisions turn a pleasure sail into a race. You check in at the Naos Yachts Location and, after a safety briefing, step onto a well-maintained cruiser ready for an eight-hour race day. The harbor is a working network of slips, docks, and breakwaters that open onto Santa Monica Bay; expect close-quarter maneuvers around channel markers and strategic runs into open ocean swell. The course uses the harbor and nearby coastal waters, where wind patterns shift off the Pacific and kelp beds outline productive feeding zones for birds and marine life. What makes this outing stand out is the combination of hands-on instruction and real competition. Instructors and race organizers teach sail handling, spinnaker work, and tactics before you race—skills included in the booking alongside vessel, insurance, fuel, and instructor fees. Small groups (typical crew size: 6) mean everyone gets a role: trimmer, bow, tactician, grinder. Even beginners leave with concrete skills; mandatory training options are available for first-timers. Marina del Rey itself is part of the Los Angeles coastal recreation corridor. The harbor, engineered and dedicated in the 1960s, is one of the largest man-made small-craft harbors in North America, and race day puts you face-to-face with that maritime infrastructure—docks, jetties, and the line of breakers that shape local currents. Glances offshore can reveal the sweep of Santa Monica Bay and, on clear days, the outline of Channel Island silhouettes. Practical details: the event runs about eight hours; race-day fees are listed per person with discounted club pricing, and there’s a separate mandatory training fee for newcomers. Wear soft-soled shoes, layered clothing, and bring sunscreen and water; the briefing will cover safety and roles. Expect active, salty, hands-on work rather than a spectator ride. For readers who want to feel the push of California coastal wind, test teamwork under pressure, and swap the tourist view for a helm-side perspective, Berger Stein Races delivers a compact, high-skill sailing experience rooted in Marina del Rey’s harbor culture and Pacific conditions. Whether you come solo to learn or bring experienced friends, the race format accelerates skills—sail trim, spinnaker sets, and splicing into crew routines—so regular participants and newcomers find measurable progress. Check-in at the Naos Yachts Location on race day and arrive prepared for an active, educational, and social day on the water; the experience rewards focus, curiosity, and a readiness to work as a tight crew.
moderate.
8 hours.
Moderate fitness; you should be comfortable moving on a heeling boat, climbing on deck, and performing short bursts of strength for sail work.
Check in at the Naos Yachts Location at 13555 Fiji Way, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292, USA—arrive early for gear and briefing.
No prior experience is required; mandatory training is available and the instructors teach roles during briefing.
The full experience runs about eight hours including briefing, on-water racing, and debrief.
Age limits were not provided in the listing—contact the operator via the referral link for specific age policies.
The booking includes the sailing vessel, insurance, fuel/water, service and booking fees, and instructor fees as listed by the operator.
Bring motion-sickness medication ahead of time, stay hydrated, focus on the horizon, and let the crew know so roles can be adjusted.
Marina del Rey is a large, engineered small-craft harbor developed and dedicated in the 1960s as part of Los Angeles’ coastal infrastructure.
Respect kelp beds and marine life by avoiding unnecessary anchoring on vegetated areas; follow leave-no-trace principles and dispose of trash ashore.
Naos Yachts is a Marina del Rey-based charter and sailing school offering a range of day sails, sunset cruises, powerboating courses, and ASA certification classes. The company operates a mixed fleet that includes monohulls, catamarans, Beneteau models, Lagoon catamarans, and specialized boats like the Beneteau First 14 for single- or two-person sailing experiences. Trips available include three-hour daysails and sunset sails, extended day sails, instructor-led ASA courses such as ASA 104/114 combo to Catalina, coastal navigation (ASA 105), docking and maneuvering (ASA 118), dinghy handling (ASA 116), plus beginning and advanced powerboating (AB101/AB103). All instruction is delivered by US Coast Guard licensed instructors or USCG-trained captains, and courses emphasize hands-on learning, safety, and small-group attention — advanced and beginning powerboating classes limit enrollment to three students per session. Vessel types and on-water routes focus on Santa Monica Bay and Marina del Rey harbor, providing scenic coastal sailing and practical seamanship training. Naos Yachts serves private charters and public classes for families, friends, and aspiring boaters seeking certification or skill-building. Booking options include hiring a trained USCG captain for relaxed cruises or self-skippered outings for experienced sailors. Equipment and vessels used in courses are modern and purpose-suited for their curriculum, from dinghy towing and beach landings to coastal navigation and overnight passage training. The business combines a large local fleet, certified instructors, and structured ASA curriculum to deliver reliable experiences on Southern California waters. Reservation and scheduling are available through Marina del Rey booking channels and online reservation platforms nationwide inquiries.
Book with Naos Yachts