DOUBLE DOWN

Double Down — 60ft Neptunus, Marina del Rey Neptunus has built its reputation on well-mannered motor yachts that hold their composure once the breakwater is behind you, and Double Down fits that mould. At 60 feet, she is sized for the Southern California day charter: substantial enough for a full guest list, manageable enough to slip out of Marina del Rey for a few hours without ceremony. The entertaining areas are her real argument. Space is arranged for people who intend to move around — from a shaded seat to the open air, from conversation to the rail when something surfaces alongside. Three cabins below allow guests to change, retreat from the sun, or simply put their things somewhere. Detailed bed configuration is available on request. She works as easily for a corporate afternoon as for a birthday, a proposal, or a memorial at sea — occasions that ask for a yacht with the right presence and a crew who understand the difference in tone each one requires. A professional captain and crew are included, which is the part that matters most: the itinerary, the safety margins and the timing are handled, and you are left with the water. Cruising grounds run from Marina del Rey down the coast to Long Beach and Newport Beach, with the Los Angeles shoreline and the marine life that works it along the way — and the islands within reach for a longer run. Charter from $550 per hour, four-hour minimum.