We booked a private sunset sail with SunSwept Sailing while visiting Santa Barbara, and it ended up being one of the highlights of our trip. Captain Spencer was friendly, knowledgeable, and incredibly thoughtful. He arranged a delicious local charcuterie board for us, had warm blankets ready as the evening cooled off, and even captured the most amazing photos of us so we could simply enjoy the experience. We sailed aboard Kelpie, spotted sea lions, and watched a breathtaking sunset over the Santa Barbara Harbor. If you’re looking for a romantic date, celebrating a special occasion, or just want one of the best things to do in Santa Barbara, I can’t recommend SunSwept Sailing enough. We’ll definitely book another charter the next time we’re in town!

Captain Spencer made our first evening in Santa Barbara a beautiful kick-off to the UCSB graduation weekend. Having lived in Santa Barbara in the 80's for 5 years, I know the allure and beauty of the town, but not from the perspective of the ocean. And I certainly did not know all the facts and entertaining anecdotes told by this native Barbarian who is also the most-experienced sailor I've ever been on a boat with. His boat, Kelpi, is exquisitely comfortable and clean. We loved watching him navigate in and out of the harbor, passing seals, sea lions, and pelicans galore. There was just enough wind to give us a gentle ride for a couple of hours off-shore, while we enjoyed the charcuterie and wine he provided. And he has excellent taste in music to accompany a sunset cruise for our multi-aged group. He can tell you all about the Channel Islands, which is something we all had many questions about.

When you need to find a perfect treat for someone who needs no more gadgets, then spend your money on memories. Captain Spencer and his yacht Kelpie can turn an average birthday into an exciting and memorable one. Sliding through the water quietly with the ocean wildlife at your side and the fantastic stunning coastline of Santa Barbara and the American riviera , all backed by some amazing mountains. Life is just perfect for a few hours. Sharing memories of travel was also great fun too, since Captain Spencer has done his fair share too.

Our group of six ocean-loving friends enjoyed a delightful sunset sail aboard Kelpie, a 1976 wooden sailboat. The boat was perfectly and lovingly restored by Captain Spencer and his wife. Spencer is a charming, cheerful, and capable captain who paid close attention to the ocean and to his passengers. Thick, warm blankets showed up, just a soon as we felt chilly. We climbed aboard around and were greeted with a lovely spread of crackers, cheese, salami, and an outstanding bottle of local wine. Suddenly, we were hungry! If you are looking for an authentic sailing experience, look no farther.

We chartered the Kelpie for a family outing last week, the yacht was impeccably maintained and the experience was outstanding. Captain Spencer made us feel safe and impressed us with his local knowledge and sailing skill, he even found a mega pod of dolphins which swam with the boat for nearly an hour! The cocktail platter, yacht rock gently playing in the background and local wine selection made the experience even better. We ended our 3 hour tour watching a gorgeous sunset sink behind the mountains. Captain Spencer & Kelpie are by far the most unique and professional duo in the area. We have chartered most of the boats/yachts in Santa Barbara and none compare to the quality experience we enjoyed. Thank you, we will be back again soon!