Captain Mack was very attentive and respectful of the event we were going to do. He was very friendly and made us feel very comfortable. read more

See all

My husband and I spent a wonderful afternoon on the sailing boat. We got to see dolphins close up, thanks to the captains perseverance we spotted some. Really relaxing and comfortable sailing trip. Thanks Captain! read more

See all

Planned a dinner cruise as our second anniversary surprise for my wife. Captain Mack was extremely helpful and went that extra mile to make this surprise even more awesome. I ordered the food from the Italian restaurant Sapori as per Capt. Mack's recommendation for the vegetarian options. Capt. Mack picked up the food and had set the table ready for us before we arrive. He even got a delicious German chocolate cake for us as anniversary gift! Brilliant sailor and excellent host. We felt safe while he showed us around. He took photos for us, engaged in fun conversation, laid down pillows and blankets for us to lay down and enjoy the sunset. His boat is a beauty and we sailed a fair distance with the ocean breeze. We saw dolphins and magnificent skyline as well. All in all, he helped me impress my wife yet again! She was all smiles and loved the cruise. We are definitely gonna come back! read more

See all

Captain Mack is the BEST! I had never been sailing before, and now I feel like the bar has been set impossibly high. He pointed out seals and took pictures with us while we were being boozy and ridiculous, and seemed genuinely thrilled that we were all enjoying our time on the water. He went above and beyond to make sure we had the best experience, and we all felt at home on his lovely boat. I can't thank you enough for our perfect sailing adventure, Captain Mack! read more

Our Saturday afternoon sailing adventure with Captain Mack couldn't have been more delightful. The crew consisted of my wife, two 10 year old boys, and myself. I have a bit of sailing experience but was limited to the lakes around my home in Oklahoma. My wife however had never been on a sailboat and one of the boys had never been on boat of any kind. This meant that Captain Mack had his hands full.  After entering the gate and making our way to one of the nicest boats I have ever laid eyes on, Captain Mack gave us the tour and made sure the boys had a short safety lesson.  The boat was magnificent with all of the comforts one needs to stay aboard much longer than our 4 hours. Once we were out of the slip we stayed under power for about 20 minutes exiting the marina. The boys spotted several sea lions and I enjoyed conversing with Captain Mack about all the different style of boats along the way. Shortly thereafter Captain Mack handed the wheel over to me to hold steady (very little work) while he spent a few minutes showing the boys how to lift the sails.  Once under sail the ride was smooth, quiet, and very relaxing. We sailed down the coast where Captain Mack pointed out all the local points of interest.  The boys were captivated with how the boat worked and Captain Mack was gracious enough to explain all the questions two ten year old boys could ask. (Thank God he doesn't charge extra for that) After several hours of beautiful scenery, stimulating conversation, and the exhilarating feeling of being powered only by the wind, we headed back to the Marina. Each of the boys were able to "DRIVE" (That was just for you Captain Mack) the boat and a great time at sea was had by all!! read more

Captain Mack took us out on the Amethyst the day after Thanksgiving. We had a great time sailing up the coast on the beautiful wooden 46' Ketch that he refurbished himself! Really clear day and you could see from the Santa Monica beach all the way downtown to the San Gabriels. He made sure we caught the sunset and he created a great low-key vibe on the boat so that the whole party could enjoy themselves. He was very knowledgeable about boating and the surrounding area. He also had blankets and hats when the wind picked up after sundown. We want to go back out with Captain Mack when Summer comes back around!!! read more

See all

Captain Mack runs a tight ship He's a very experienced sailor, and his ship is clean and well organized. We chartered him for our five year anniversary and had a great time. He coordinated picking up the food and served us while manning the helm while it was calm in the Harbor, and then we hit the open sea and saw the sunset. He has a lot of great stories, and he's a really good guy. Very casual and fun, I could see renting his boat again for a group of people to go cruising in the daytime and go swimming off the boat. It would be a lot of fun. read more

My family came together in Southern California to scatter ashes at sea for my sister and my parents (in a place with special meaning for us). Captain Mack was responsive from Day One, and was super about staying in touch and giving us detailed instructions so that everything went perfectly, and I mean absolutely perfect. The day was exactly what I had hoped for without even knowing that was what I really needed. He referred us to a florist so that we could purchase flowers and petals. He had brought yummy snacks, and even told a few pirate jokes (on request). He knows all kinds of history and gave us suggestions for things to do in the area. My niece got to help hoist the sail and my husband got to steer for awhile! Although you'd think it would be a sad day... it was not. It became simply a beautiful day - exquisitely peaceful, and a time we could all share in the spirits of our loved ones freely, informally, in our own way as well as communally through scattering the flowers on the water together. I can already imagine coming back again to connect with each other in such a lovely, spiritual way. read more

I was looking for something to do with my dad, whom I haven't seen in two years, and came across Macks website for sailing. I though to myself that this would be a perfect, relaxing thing to do with him. When I called Mack, he was super friendly over the phone, and when we decided on a date, he gave me detailed directions to the marina with no questions untouched. The day of sailing I had the pleasure to meet the Captain and board his lovely, rustic vessel. He is soooo friendly in person, extremely knowledgable, and attentive. Always wanted to make sure his quests were at ease and carried good conversation. I will definitely recommend Captain Mack to my friends and family. THANK YOU MACK FOR A DAY OF MEMORIES WITH MY DAD !!! :) read more

We did an overnight trip with Mack and his wife to Catalina Island, and we had an amazing time. They have a beautiful boat, and the sailing was great! Mack has be living and sailing out of Marina Del Ray since he was a kid, so he has a wealth of knowledge and love for SoCal sailing and Catalina. We are already talking about our next trip :) read more

I wish I could give Captain Mack even MORE stars! Six of us sailed with him Sunday afternoon and could not have asked for a better time. Capt. Mack is friendly and professional and his boat is absolutely perfect. It was my first time ever sailing and I felt comfortable and safe every moment. He took us out of Marina Del Rey, along the coast of Santa Monica toward Malibu before turning around and heading back. All told we were out there for almost six glorious hours. You should bring plenty of sunscreen, a sweater because it can get chilly out there and a bottle of wine because everybody should have a glass of wine while gliding along the water. This is money well spent and is worth every single penny. Thanks Capt. Mack for putting up with us and giving us a great restaurant recommendation when we docked!! read more

I have known Captain Mack for about twenty years as a fellow boater, and watched him refurbish his beautiful wood ketch over the years. She is an amazing wooden boat which provides the feel of a proper seagoing yacht. Captain Mack is a true professional with many years of wide ranging experience at sea. He is one of the few local captains I have met that I consider a truly skilled seaman. When people ask me where they can charter a sailboat, Captain Mack is the only one I feel good about referring. read more

We just returned from a two day Catalina adventure with Captain Mack. We had never sailed before , but Captain Mack's great knowledge and enthusiasm were infectious. Sailing is exhilarating! On Catalina he took us to amazing snorkeling sites and gave us a tour of the coves of the island. And then he cooked us a steak dinner on the boat! Thanks Captain Mack for a wonderful experience we will never forget read more

Had a fantastic sunset cruise with Captain Mack - the entire experience was seamless. He was very prompt in responding to all of my requests and available over text, email and phone. When my party of 6 arrived, he could not have been more gracious and attentive - had blankets and wine glasses for us, among other amenities. Very entertaining and contributed amusing bits into the conversation. Most importantly, we felt safe with him and will definitely book again! read more

Capt Mac is amazing. My boyfriend chartered the boat so he could propose. Capt Mac helped him arrange long stem roses, they were magnificent. He gave us cheese, crackers, wine, champagne, and even chilled the champagne I brought. He was even great when I got sea sick. I highly recommend him. read more