Private Whale Watching & Wildlife Sailing in Santa Barbara

Where Sailing Meets Wildlife

The Experience Begins With Sailing

Unlike crowded wildlife tours, every SunSwept Sailing adventure is a private experience designed to bring your group closer to the beauty of the Santa Barbara Channel. Watch for dolphins, California sea lions, seabirds and seasonal whales from the deck of a classic sailing yacht.

Wildlife sightings vary with the season and ocean conditions and can never be guaranteed. Yet every sail offers something memorable: open water, beautiful coastal scenery and the possibility of an unexpected encounter with marine life.

Whale flukes above the water during a whale watching sail in the Santa Barbara Channel.

CHECK AVAILABILITY

SCENIC COASTLINE
Mountains to the sea

FROM $788
Transparent pricing

DURATION OPTIONS
2.5 to 4 hours

PRIVATE CHARTER
Just your group

UP TO 6 GUESTS
Friends, family, you

Choose Your Adventure

2.50 Hour Wildlife Sail

Enjoy a private coastal sailing adventure with time to watch for dolphins, sea lions, seabirds and other marine wildlife along the way.

From $788 for up to 6 guests

VIEW AVAILABILITY

CAPTAIN’S PICK

3-Hour Wildlife Sail

Explore farther along the Santa Barbara coast, with more time under sail and additional opportunities to encounter the channel’s marine wildlife.

From $888 for up to 6 guests

VIEW AVAILABILITY

4- Hour Wildlife Sail

Venture farther into the Santa Barbara Channel on an extended private sailing adventure, with more time to follow the conditions and enjoy wildlife encounters as they unfold.

From $1,138 for up to 6 guests

VIEW AVAILABILITY

Gray Whale Migration Sails are available each March and April. Contact us and we’ll help plan the perfect day aboard Kelpie.

What’s Included

Private charter for just your group
Professional USCG-licensed captain
Beautiful coastal and mountain views
Year-round marine wildlife viewing opportunities
Cozy blankets for breezy days
Bluetooth speaker for your playlist
Relaxed, personalized time on the water
Easy boarding from Santa Barbara Harbor

Every charter is designed to to feel effortless, personal and memorable.

Guests photograph a dolphin from Yacht Kelpie during a private wildlife sailing charter in Santa Barbara.

Harbor seal resting beside the water in Santa Barbara Harbor.

California sea lions gathered on a buoy near Santa Barbara.

Guests aboard Yacht Kelpie watch a distant whale blow during a private sailing charter in Santa Barbara.

Enhancements Available

CURATED CATERING

BEVERAGES

FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS

SPECIAL OCCASION ADD-ONS

VIEW ENHANCEMENTS

What to Expect

BEFORE YOUR CHARTER
Arrive at Santa Barbara Harbor, Marina 2 Gate, 10 minutes before departure. Your captain will meet you at the gate and walk you down to Kelpie.

BOARDING
Step aboard Kelpie, settle in, and get comfortable as your private wildlife sailing adventure begins.

UNDERWAY
Keep watch for dolphins, sea lions, seabirds, and seasonal whales as Kelpie quietly sails through one of the richest marine ecosystems on the West Coast.

RETURN
Return to Santa Barbara Harbor with unforgettable memories, beautiful photographs, and a deeper appreciation for the incredible wildlife of the Santa Barbara Channel.

Ready for Your Wildlife Adventure?

Reserve your private wildlife sailing experience aboard Yacht Kelpie.

BOOK YOUR EXPERIENCE

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Every SunSwept Sailing experience is completely private. The yacht is reserved exclusively for your group of up to six guests, allowing you to enjoy a relaxed, personalized experience with your captain and the flexibility to tailor the sail to your interests.
The Santa Barbara Channel is one of the richest marine ecosystems on the West Coast, making every sail an opportunity to encounter remarkable wildlife. Throughout the year, dolphins, California sea lions, pelicans, cormorants, and other seabirds are frequent companions on our adventures. Depending on the season and ocean conditions, you may also encounter gray whales, humpback whales, minke whales, dolphins or other visiting marine mammals.
Our Wildlife Sails are designed to balance authentic sailing with wildlife viewing, exploring the beautiful coastline while remaining flexible to follow wildlife activity when conditions allow. Longer sail durations provide more time to venture farther from shore, increasing the opportunity for memorable wildlife encounters. While nature can never be guaranteed, every charter offers a unique experience shaped by the wind, the sea, and the wildlife that chooses to share the journey.
Our dedicated whale watching season coincides with the spring gray whale migration, when mothers and calves travel north through the Santa Barbara Channel on their journey back to Alaska. During this time, gray whales often pass closer to the Santa Barbara coastline, making March and April the ideal months for our private whale watching sails.
Outside the gray whale migration, sightings of humpback whales, minke whales, and other cetaceans are still possible, particularly on our longer wildlife sails when conditions allow us to explore farther offshore. Because every trip is aboard a private sailing yacht—not a high-speed commercial whale watching vessel—our focus is on enjoying an authentic sailing experience while taking advantage of the wildlife opportunities each day presents.
Kelpie accommodates up to six passengers, including children and infants. Your charter price covers the private yacht rather than being charged per person, so you may bring anywhere from one to six guests.

We recommend dressing in layers, as it is often about 10°F cooler on the water than on land. A hat, polarized sunglasses, a camera, and non-aerosol, reef-safe sunscreen will help make your experience more comfortable.
Kelpie is a barefoot yacht, so guests will be asked to remove their footwear before boarding unless shoes are medically necessary. Warm blankets are available aboard in case you forget a jacket.
Outside food and hard-sided coolers are not permitted. Curated food and beverage options are available to add to your charter. Please contact us in advance regarding dietary or medical circumstances that may require an exception.
Yes. Depending on the experience, you may add curated picnic or cocktail platters, beverages, floral arrangements, proposal enhancements, and other special touches.
Available options and ordering deadlines vary by charter. Visit the Add-Ons section of your experience page or select available enhancements during booking.
Your captain monitors marine conditions closely and makes the final decision regarding weather and safety. Santa Barbara often has excellent sailing conditions even when the forecast appears overcast or breezy on land.
If SunSwept Sailing must cancel because conditions are unsafe, we will work with you to reschedule. When rescheduling is not possible, the options available under our weather policy will apply. Guests should not assume their charter is canceled unless they hear directly from us.
Cancellation and rescheduling terms depend on the experience and how far in advance the request is made. Most standard charters may be rescheduled for account credit when notice is provided at least 72 hours before departure. Refunds are limited, and special experiences, catering, floral arrangements, holidays, and bookings made close to departure may have different terms.
Please review the full policies which are also displayed during booking before completing your reservation.