As companies start to plan holiday parties and other events for next year, breaking away from traditional meeting and event spaces can offer a refreshing change of scenery attendees will enjoy. And what setting could be more inspiring in Southern California than a vessel atop the Pacific Ocean?
The Northwind is a historic yacht with a rich and fascinating history, opened to the public this summer as The Northwind Experience, a venue that hosts private events, serves elevated food and cocktails, and offers cultural programming along with other special experiences. The ship was commissioned in 1930 by industrialist and yachtsman Charles Martin Clark Jr., who cruised the Eastern Seaboard on it until his death in 1935. The yacht changed ownership numerous times over the course of nearly a century, then, during World War II, the British government gained ownership, using it as a patrol boat on the River Thames. It also aided in the Dunkirk evacuation and was later used for a global British trade promotion and intelligence mission before being acquired in the 1960s by the Nomikos family, a prominent Greek shipping dynasty family that famously hosted first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis on the yacht for a summer holiday cruise through the Greek Islands.
After changing owners several more times, the Northwind underwent a massive multiyear refit from 2017 to 2024 and was leased to Netflix to be featured in the TV series “Griselda” before current owners, Jeff Weiss and Colin Shepherd, who also co-own the California Yacht Club in Marina del Rey, bought it last year.
Permanently moored at the California Yacht Club, the 135-foot vessel features restored maritime details, fire features, custom lighting, and a panoramic marina view, available for private events and full-vessel buyouts as The Northwind Experience. It is the only publicly accessible, upscale food and beverage destination on the water in Marina del Rey. The Northwind Experience’s programming includes lively evenings with music and tasting experiences, relaxed brunches, sunset cocktails, and more.
“The Northwind Experience is where exceptional hospitality, timeless maritime heritage, and the beauty of Marina del Rey come together,” says Weiss. “Our goal is for every guest to leave with a story to tell, a memory to cherish, and the feeling that they’ve discovered one of Los Angeles’ truly special places.”
The Northwind Experience delights the moment guests step aboard and are greeted with white-glove welcomes and optional champagne introductions. The yacht’s distinct event spaces include the cozy Victory Lounge with a bespoke bar for up to 16 attendees; the Victory Deck with wraparound windows and the main dining deck for up to 24; Winston’s, a stylish bar space with standing cocktail tables and a TV located on the main deck next to the Victory Lounge and Victory Deck; the Jackie O Suite, a poker room that seats 10; and the Sunset Deck, the largest outdoor space with a bar that seats 50 guests.
“Our vision with The Northwind Experience was to create something that feels uniquely tied to Marina del Rey, a destination that invites people to experience the waterfront in a fresh and memorable way,” says Weiss. “Every element was thoughtfully curated to evoke the romance of classic yachting, from the cuisine and handcrafted cocktails to the intimate hospitality and rich maritime history. We want guests to feel immersed in an experience that is as much about storytelling as it is about dining.”
Chef Charles Voudouris leads The Northwind Experience’s seasonal, “sea-to-table” culinary program, which showcases fresh coastal ingredients through refined, yet approachable dishes. The menu is served throughout the intimate dining rooms and open-air decks and includes shareable plates, curated wines, and handcrafted cocktails.
