Captain's Log

The heavy-set man in an oversized Hawaiian shirt stood on the stern swim platform of his prestigious 54-foot Grand Banks motor yacht. The large man, with hands on hips, was in the “bitch wing pose” as he scrutinized Victoria and me in our 42-foot sailboat. We were assigned to the mooring next to his spotless […]

The phone call was brief, but the young man’s urgent tone pulled me in and made me pay attention. “Mr. Paul, my name is Logan, and I plan to propose to my girlfriend on your sailboat, but I’ve never done this before, and I want it to be perfect.” I couldn’t help but smile at […]

I once had a crew member accuse me of “overdoing it.” This person, who is no longer employed, needed to understand what makes Riviera the must-do activity when visiting San Diego. After all, anyone can offer a “boat ride” in San Diego Bay. Anyone could hand a guest a bag of Cheetos, toss them a […]

It was the summer of 1980. I turned 17, landed my first job as a sailing instructor at Harbor Island Yacht Club, and lived on my Dad’s 25-foot Catalina. Occasionally, after sunset, I’d motor Dad’s little sailboat out of the marina into San Diego Bay. I’d cut the engine, hoist the headsail and let the […]

On the Riviera, we want our guests to feel like travelers. Anthony Bourdain once said, “When you travel, let the happy accidents happen.” As such, we want our passengers to feel like they are stepping aboard a hidden gem of a yacht, experiencing sailing in San Diego as authentic and genuine travelers rather than tourists […]

I come from a long line of Irish thieves and poets who never let the truth stand in the way of a good story. The problem with dishonesty is that, eventually, the truth will surface. In 2009 a friend of ours suggested we visit the British Virgin Islands and spend a couple weeks island-hopping on […]

At least once a week I’m asked how and when I started sailing. I usually give the short answer, but for the record, here’s the long answer. Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, most likely after running his ship aground in 1542, called it “Bahía Falsa,” or The False Bay. This muddy tidal wash where the San Diego […]

Last week we welcomed Chef David Castro Hussong, the extraordinary executive chef at Fauna, the 5-star restaurant in Valle De Guadalupe, to prepare a private dinner aboard Riviera. With wines from the Valle, Fernando Gaxiola of Baja Food & Wine paired each dish with some of the Valle’s best vintages. Chef David brought down the […]

It’s always a thrill for me as the Captain when I take out someone who’s never sailed. It’s even better if the guest’s only yachting experience has been on a power boat. With both sails deployed, I shut the engine off as we headed past Coasterra Restaurant on the east end of Harbor Island. The […]

The Rady Shell. Our $85 million shining example of the philanthropic spirit, alive and well in San Diego. San Diego has always reminded me of a 12-year boy. For most of my life, it seemed my hometown didn’t know what it wanted to be when it grew up. For decades, the US Navy and defense […]