Bill Robens and his Wife Chartered a Yacht Off the Santa Barbara Coast and All They Got Was a Wonderful Time.
As promised, here is Bill Roben’s full article, “A Perfectly Scandal-Free Sea Excursion“ first published in the July 2025 print edition of The Montecito Journal and available online here.
Thomas Ince was at the top of the world in 1924. The head of his own major studio, the father of the Western had produced over 800 films and reached the zenith of the movie business where nothing could stand in his way. Nothing, that is, until he was invited onto...a yacht. His ensuing murder at the hands of a jealous William Randolph Hearst is Hollywood legend.
And, like a lot of events that take place on yachts, it never happened.
Other infamous yacht-based tragedies include the mysterious demise of Natalie Wood off Catalina Island, the death of Gary Hart’s presidential aspirations, that memorable moment in The White Lotus season two, and... whatever that was during The White Lotus season three. The “Yacht Murder Mystery” is such a prominent genre in literature and film, there are companies that offer murder-themed yacht excursions. We’re talking to YOU, Robert Maxwell (father of Ghislaine).
My wife, Lynn, and I are here to tour the Santa Barbara coast on a chartered yacht and intrigue is not on the itinerary. Or is it? It’s just us, the crew, and a dozen strangers embarking on a cruise to an unknown destination. Could it be possible that we all share a common acquaintance bent on revenge? Am I disappointed that the next three hours are spent sipping champagne and engaging in pleasant conversation while sea lions frolic below?
Turns out, yacht excursions are, for the most part, murder-free. “Sunset cruises are really popular right now,” says captain and founder of M Group Yacht Services, Ron Mendoza, who deftly maneuvers the 65-foot motor yacht, The Real Deal, out of the harbor. “It’s a great way to see Santa Barbara.” Mendoza speaks the truth. It is a gorgeous afternoon. Sunny and calm, the Santa Ynez Mountains fade into the distance as we work our way south. Far removed from the hustle and bustle of Santa Barbara (what little there is of it), instead of getting to the bottom of an Agatha Christie-like predicament, my wife and I have grand time chatting with the other passengers. Strange how imbibing sparkling wine and taking in exquisite scenery while lounging on a luxurious yacht puts people in a festive mood.
Lynn is peppering Rob with questions. She’s a natural at sea having spent much of her teenage years sailing with family and friends on the Chesapeake. I’m disadvantaged in that regard. My Navy officer dad suffered from chronic seasickness, so I’m more landlubber than my better half. Lynn quickly learns that this is nothing like the sailing yachts she grew up with. Ron explains, “This boat is for, you know, doing almost anything. It’s built for offshore, it has the gyro stabilizers and the fin stabilizers. And that helps with the comfort.”
The gyro stabilizer is my new favorite thing. There’s an enormous ball spinning furiously beneath us at all times. I’ve never had more fun watching a yacht not sway in the water. Do they make gyro stabilizers for babies? For people who’ve had too much to drink? My mind races with possibility.
Beyond sunset cruises and fishing expeditions, this is a versatile craft for countless other experiences. She can take you out to the islands for kayaking, hiking, or whatever you can imagine doing on the islands. Board games. The aforementioned White Lotus. You do you.
“It’s customized,” says Ron, elaborating, “I like to have a conversation
with the client. I want to know their perfect trip on the water.” They have other yachts, seasonal yachts to suit the customer’s needs. While I’m disappointed in the dearth of salacious yacht lore, I have to admit I’m delighted with the accommodations. In addition to the teak and birdseye maple-adorned interiors, our yachting adventure is further enhanced by
Chef Colleen Hurley Elliot’s scrumptious appetizers and Partnership Director Shannon Eminhizer’s attentiveness. Customization is the theme and, personally, I feel quite customized. If not downright bespoke.
Alas, murder and scandal play no role in our yacht expedition. Maybe next time. Watching pelicans cruising overhead and the waves of the Pacific sparkling below, I have to content myself only with the paradise that is the Santa Barbara coast.
Apologies to Thomas Ince.
Hopefully you noticed what we did: the little things matter and sometimes the best compliment is just being part of someone’s genuinely good day.
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