A team building boat in Los Angeles means chartering a private vessel for your group, with a captain and crew handling the sailing while your team spends a few hours together away from the office. Aboard the Cocokai, a 75-foot schooner sailing out of Long Beach, a team of up to 12 gets the whole boat to itself.
Most team events fail for the same reason: everyone can see them coming. The escape room, the ropes course, and the icebreaker in a beige meeting room all send people in already braced, and braced people do not connect. If you are weighing the best team building activities in Los Angeles for your company, a day on the water is worth a close look because nobody expects it.
Why a boat stands out among team building activities in Los Angeles
Teams from across Greater Los Angeles board at Shoreline Village Marina in Long Beach. From there the Cocokai sails into San Pedro Bay, with the coastline and open water doing much of the work a facilitator would do on land. Here are five reasons that setup works.
1. Privacy you cannot get in a rented room
Book a venue in LA and you are sharing walls. The event next door bleeds through, the servers cut in, and half your team is watching the clock. A private charter gives you the entire vessel, with no other groups and no one listening in. When a team is genuinely alone together for a few hours, the conversation goes places it rarely reaches in a conference room. The same privacy suits executive retreats and client entertainment.
2. A day people remember and talk about
People remember the unusual events. Another catered lunch in a conference room is forgotten by Monday, while a day under sail on a classic schooner becomes a story the team keeps telling. Morale, retention, and recruiting all run partly on stories people tell about where they work, and a sailing day gives them a good one.
3. The water is an equalizer
In the office, the org chart follows everyone into the room. On a boat, the VP and the newest hire are watching the same coastline and working out the same unfamiliar environment together. Hierarchies loosen, people talk across levels they normally would not, and the coworker you meet on deck is often the more relaxed version.
4. Being underway pulls people off their phones
In a conference room the wifi is right there, and every lull sends people back to their inboxes. On the water, there is plenty to watch: the sails, the shoreline, the wildlife, and each other. You do not have to enforce a no-phones rule when the environment makes it easy to look up.
5. The day bends to what your team needs
A charter can be a relaxed afternoon of sailing, or a fuller event built around your goals. Options include:
- Catering arranged with our local culinary partner, or your own vendors if you prefer
- Bring-your-own drinks. Guests may bring wine, champagne, or spirits. Glassware and corkage are included, and our captain observes all USCG safety and sobriety rules.
- On-board extras such as an audio system, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards
- A Catalina option for teams that want a longer retreat. Trips run one to four days.
Tell us the tone you want and we build the day around it.
What a team building day on the Cocokai looks like
A typical corporate half day follows a simple shape:
- Boarding at Shoreline Village Marina, with marina parking included
- Sailing out into San Pedro Bay, with the captain and crew handling the vessel while your team settles in
- A meal or a toast at a calm moment, which gives the day an anchor people remember
- Free time on deck for conversation, photos, and watching the coast
- Return to the marina at the end of the charter
The half-day charter runs four to five hours. Full-day charters are available for bigger agendas.
What a team building boat charter costs
Half-day charters start at $1,399 for the boat, which works out to about $117 per person for a full group of 12. The crew fee is separate and paid directly to the captain and deckhand.
The boat rate includes the private charter, marina parking, glassware, and corkage, with water, sodas, and ice available on request. Catering and any extras are priced separately, and we will quote them with your date.
Is a boat the right fit for your team?
A boat is a strong choice for teams that want time together, not a scripted program. It is worth being clear about the limits:
- Group size. The Cocokai carries up to 12 guests. For a larger company we can coordinate multiple charter dates so everyone gets the experience.
- Structure. The day is about connection, not facilitated workshops. If you need structured exercises or training, you can pair a charter with a separate session on land.
- Weather. Sailing depends on conditions, and the captain makes the final call on the day.
Making the most of the day
- Keep the agenda light. Over-scheduling undercuts the disconnection you came for.
- Let people move around the deck. The best conversations happen when the group is not seated in a circle.
- Add one shared ritual. A toast, a meal at anchor, or a group photo gives the day a shape people remember.
- Trust the crew. Tell them the tone you want and let them set the pace.
Plan your team building boat day in Los Angeles
Give us your headcount and a few possible dates, and we will build the day around your team. Contact us for more corporate team building activities in Los Angeles, and our charters page for rates and options.
Frequently asked questions
How big a team can you accommodate?
Up to 12 guests aboard the Cocokai. For larger teams, we can coordinate multiple charter dates.
How long is a team event charter?
The half-day charter runs four to five hours. Full-day and multi-day Catalina options are available for bigger agendas.
Does anyone on the team need to know how to sail?
No. A captain and crew handle the vessel the entire time, and your team just shows up.
Can you handle food and drinks?
Catering can be arranged, or you can bring your own vendors. Guests may bring their own drinks, with glassware and corkage included.
What if someone gets seasick?
Tell us ahead of time and the captain will take it into account when planning the route. The crew can talk through what to expect before you book.
How far ahead should we book?
Weekdays are usually the most flexible, and summer weekends fill early. A few weeks’ notice is ideal.
