The Marina’s Sunset Harbor Cruise sails throughout the Del Mar Boat Basin and Oceanside Harbor while serving hor d‘oeuvres and allows patrons the opportunity to take the helm for only $15.

"When you hit the water, its freedom,” said Ann Smith, lead instructor, Del Mar Marina, Marine Corps Community Services, Camp Pendleton. “It gives you a chance to get away from land and forget about your problems.”

The two-hour cruise occurs twice a month with reservations and is scheduled to become more frequent as more patrons participate. The 18-foot covered boat travels slowly throughout Camp Pendleton’s local waters and is one of the many traveling up and down the Southern Californian coast from San Diego to the Catalina Islands.

“Sailing can be an expensive past time, but the Marina makes it extremely affordable for servicemembers,” said Smith. “Most people only use their boats the first two months after they buy it, and then it sits in the dock collecting dust, costing money.”

Eligible participants include all active-duty, reserve, and retired military. This also includes servicemember dependents and government employees.

Additional services offered by the Marina include sailboat, powerboat and kayak rentals, U.S. certified sailing lessons and 53 year-round docking facilities or boat slips.

The Marina’s certified U.S. Coast Guard sailing staff teach youth and adults a variety of courses from sailing for beginners to advanced seamanship and navigation.

The Del Mar Marina is open year-round Wednesday through Sunday and for all summer federal holidays. Seasonal hours of operation are currently 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. until October.

“My family readiness officer recommended me to the Marina,” said Nicholl M. Mishaga, recent cruise participant and Camp Pendleton military spouse. “I only wish I would have known about the cruise sooner.”

For additional information call the Del Mar Marina at (760) 725-2820.