Nestled between the Santa Ynez mountains and the Pacific Ocean sits one of the most unique places in the world. Santa Barbara beams with historic white stucco buildings and red tile roofs heavily influenced by its Spanish heritage, but what makes the city truly unique is it’s position across from Channel Islands National Park and a section of California’s Central Coast that has been sailed for centuries.

A mainstay of the harbor, the Santa Barbara Sailing Center has embodied a perfect west coast lifestyle for decades. Providing first-class on-the-water activities and a sailing experience like no other since 1967. With a fleet of over forty boats, the crew of the Sailing Center boasts a robust array of options for getting out on the high seas with impressive resumes of experience in sailing.

After an 8-year quest to purchase the business, Skip Abed, bought the Santa Barbara Sailing Center in 2000 bringing his world-renowned experience to Santa Barbara. He and his wife have turned the Sailing Center into Santa Barbara’s domain expertise when it comes to getting on the water and exploring The Windy Channel.

Skip was kind enough to host us for an afternoon aboard Heather Jean, his 32 foot Catalina aptly named after his mother. So we packed a cooler and rounded up a handful of friends for an afternoon on the water off California’s Central Coast.

Our friend Ari, who ran Business Development for the Sailing Center for over 10 years, gathered a group of local friends and invited us to tag along. We got everyone onboard and started to navigate the harbor with the wind at our backs.

There’s nothing quite like sailing. For the seasoned boater who rarely sails, making way after you cut power to the engine is an experience unlike any other. There’s a peaceful silence that sets in and you quickly realize it’s just you and the elements at work.

As we began meeting everyone and cracking open some cold ones, we could quickly tell who the seasoned sailing veterans were aboard Heather Jean. Some were put to work while a few lucky others (present company included) had the job of sitting back, relaxing, and enjoying the views.

What makes this region so special is the Santa Ynez mountains which rise up over 4800 feet before stretching all the way down to sea level like something out of a European fairy tale. Boasting almost 300 days of sunshine per year, this mountain range provides an incredibly scenic backdrop for almost any outdoor activity. An ocean enthusiasts paradise, there’s 30 miles of marine channel to explore between the mainland and Channel Islands National Park. Every day seems to be an adventure off Santa Barbara where there’s no shortage of seals, sea lions, fish, and pelicans in every direction.

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After an afternoon filled with salt air and sunshine, it felt as though we had all known each other for years. We talked about where everyone had grown up, their favorite travel destinations, how the hell you make fisherman’s sweaters with recycled oyster shells, and how a place like Santa Barbara creates a special community and makes you appreciate the present moment.

The vibes were high as we headed back into the harbor and a signature west coast golden hour set in. After a short dock walk to look at some boats, Ari took us to the Santa Barbara Yacht Club where she recently became a Member. We ate outside on the back deck, over looking the harbor as the sun went down and a lunar eclipse rose over the Pacific Ocean just off California’s Central Coast.

A huge thank you goes out to Skip for taking us out, to Ari for organizing such a memorable day, to Ali of Ali Beck Photography for capturing it all, and to Elle, Kyle, Lisa, Sid, and Tim for making us feel right at home!