| For the novice, a yacht rental in Los Angeles may | | | | head west, to the sea. Before you seize up with fear |
| seem like a rather daunting proposition. It is, after all, a | | | | at the prospect, this isn't the wide open sea here -- |
| yacht and most people in Southern California, surfers | | | | just the 20 miles off-shore kind of open sea. |
| excluded, seldom have much interaction with the open | | | | When you rent your yacht in Los Angeles chances |
| sea. Notice, I said "open" sea. Sitting on the beach in | | | | are you'll be steered to Catalina and points west, about |
| Santa Monica and working on your tan is not going to | | | | an hour from Marina del Rey. It's the standard route |
| cut it. No, to experience the open sea, you need a | | | | that most yacht captains prefer and it's the route most |
| yacht, some good friends, and great food. Yes, an odd | | | | Angelenos expect to be taken on. Sure, it's a bit |
| combination of factors, but essential, nonetheless. | | | | hackneyed, but when you get right down to it, the |
| To staunch sailors, a yacht doesn't qualify as a | | | | beauty of a rental isn't the sights you're going to take in |
| sea-worthy vessel. To them, a yacht is a floating hotel. | | | | -- it's all about the boat. And this is no ordinary boat, |
| It's like taking a chartered bus to see the houses of the | | | | mind you. This, is a thirty-foot, luxurious yacht, complete |
| stars. But, what do they know. Sometimes you just | | | | with hot tub, showers, and guest cabins. In fact, if you |
| want to get away from the city, from the traffic, and | | | | had enough money, you could live in one of these |
| the day-to-day grind. So, instead of heading to parts | | | | indefinitely. |
| north of Los Angeles County, the wise and wistful | | | | |