Next Level Sailing
Next Level Sailing is a San Diego-based private tour operator founded in 2003, offering year-round whale watching tours and private charters aboard the historic 139-foot Yacht America replica, serving individual tourists, families, corporate clients, and special-event customers across Southern California.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersSan Diego, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Next Level Sailing does
Next Level Sailing is a privately held San Diego-based experiential tour operator founded in 2003 by Troy Sears and partners, who acquired two International America's Cup Class racing yachts and relocated them to Broadway Pier. The company operates a single flagship vessel — the Yacht America, a 139-foot replica of the historic yacht that won the first America's Cup in 1851 — with a passenger capacity of 76-77. Its core product is a daily three-hour whale watching tour departing from San Diego Bay, marketed year-round with a 100% sighting guarantee (reportedly achieved in the 2023-2024 winter season) and supported by U.S. Coast Guard inspection, certified crew, and a no-seasickness guarantee.
The business also operates a private charter product line covering corporate events, team building, weddings, rehearsal dinners, birthdays, anniversaries, reunions, engagement parties, bridal showers, and film/media production, with optional catering drawn from local San Diego restaurants and live music add-ons. Distribution is direct-to-consumer through an embedded FareHarbor booking widget, walk-up sales at a 2050 Shelter Island Drive check-in point, and quote-based inbound sales for private charters. Marketing relies on SEO-optimized content (whale species, migration, San Diego attractions), organic social (Facebook, Instagram, X, TripAdvisor, Yelp), email/gift card promotions, and earned customer testimonials.
The company has served more than 200,000 passengers since 2006, has 1-10 employees, and reports no outside funding, parent company, or subsidiaries. Revenue is generated via unit-priced tickets (adults $86.40, children $51.84, active military $43.21, retired military $73.44) and custom-quoted private charter contracts, with gift cards as a secondary transactional channel.
Next Level Sailing firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Next Level Sailing
- Legal name
- Next Level Sailing
- Website
- https://nextlevelsailing.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Next Level Sailing is a San Diego-based private tour operator founded in 2003, offering year-round whale watching tours and private charters aboard the historic 139-foot Yacht America replica, serving individual tourists, families, corporate clients, and special-event customers across Southern California.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Next Level Sailing industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Whale Watching and Sailing Tour Services
- NAICS
- Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (48721)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Whale Watching & Marine Mammal Tours (THAAAIAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Private Yacht & Luxury Boat Charters (With Crew) (THAJALAE), Sightseeing & Scenic Boat Tours (Harbor, Sunset, Dolphin/Whale Watching) (THAJAJAA)
Keywords
Where Next Level Sailing is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Diego
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Next Level Sailing business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Whale Watching Tours: Daily shared whale watching tours departing from San Diego Bay aboard Yacht America. Pricing tiers for adults, children, military, and dogs.
- Private Charters: Private charter bookings for corporate events, weddings, rehearsal dinners, birthdays, anniversaries, reunions, film/media production, cocktail cruises, engagement parties, and bridal showers.
- Gift Cards: Gift card sales for experiences aboard Yacht America
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Adult whale watching tour (Ages 13+) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Children whale watching tour (Ages 12 and under) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Active Military |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Retired Military |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Private Charters |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Next Level Sailing product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Next Level Sailing operates daily, year-round 3-hour whale watching tours from San Diego Bay aboard the 139-foot Yacht America (a replica of the 1851 America's Cup winner) with capacity for 76-77 passengers. The company also books private charters for corporate events, weddings, rehearsal dinners, birthdays, anniversaries, reunions, engagement parties, bridal showers, and film/media productions, with optional catering and private dining from San Diego restaurants.
Product overview
Next Level Sailing operates as a premier whale watching and sailing tour company in San Diego, offering a portfolio of experiences centered around the iconic Yacht America—a 139-foot replica racing yacht. The core offering consists of daily whale watching tours (3 hours) providing year-round sightings of various whale species including gray, blue, humpback, fin, and minke whales, along with dolphins and sea lions. The company also provides private charter services for corporate events, weddings, rehearsal dinners, birthdays, anniversaries, reunions, engagement parties, bridal showers, and film/media productions. Additional offerings include private dining with catering from local restaurants and gift cards. All experiences depart from San Diego Bay with a whale sighting guarantee.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Yacht America: A 139-foot replica racing yacht, the flagship vessel of Next Level Sailing, modeled after the historic vessel that won the first America's Cup in 1851. Capacity of 76-77 passengers.
Products and services
- San Diego Whale Watching Tours Daily, year-round 3-hour whale watching excursions departing from San Diego Bay aboard Yacht America (139 ft, 76-77 passengers), offering wildlife sightings of gray, blue, humpback, fin, and minke whales along with dolphins and sea lions. Priced per person with adult, child, active military, and retired military tiers, with a free rain check if no whales are spotted. Designed for individual tourists, families, and groups visiting San Diego.
- Corporate Events & Private Charters Custom-quoted private yacht charters aboard Yacht America used for corporate entertaining, team-building events, cocktail cruises, and meetings, with optional catering from San Diego restaurants. Targeted at companies and organizations seeking a premium, waterfront venue for client entertainment and team experiences.
- Weddings & Rehearsal Dinners Private charter bookings for wedding ceremonies, receptions, rehearsal dinners, and bridal showers departing from San Diego Bay aboard Yacht America. Targets individuals planning milestone celebrations who want a unique, scenic waterfront venue.
- Special Events Charters Custom-quoted private yacht charters for birthdays, anniversaries, reunions, engagement parties, and film/media productions aboard Yacht America. Targets individuals planning milestone celebrations and production crews seeking unique nautical backdrops.
- Cocktail Cruises Private cocktail cruise charters aboard Yacht America, typically bundled with corporate entertainment or private celebrations. Targets groups hosting cocktails and networking events on San Diego Bay.
- School Field Trip Tours Educational whale watching field trip tours for school groups and youth organizations, pairing marine biology and wildlife learning with sailing aboard Yacht America in San Diego Bay. Targets K-12 schools and educational groups.
- Gift Cards Online gift card sales that can be redeemed toward whale watching tours and private charter experiences aboard Yacht America. Targets gift buyers seeking an experiential present for friends, family, or clients.
Quantifiable outcome
- 98% whale sighting success rate during peak season
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Next Level Sailing
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Next Level Sailing technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Next Level Sailing partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Island Palms Best Western Hotel & MarinaminorPartnership for customer check-in location and dining recommendations. Check-in location across from the hotel with free parking. Blue Wave Bar & Grill at the hotel recommended for pre/post tour dining.
- FareHarborcoreBooking and reservation management platform integrated into website. Handles calendar availability, booking flow, and payment processing for tours and gift cards.
- San Diego Yacht ClubminorTroy Sears was a long-time San Diego Yacht Club member. Company origins trace to yacht club community.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Next Level Sailing competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching: Dana Point operator running year-round whale watching tours. Comparable product and target customer (Southern California tourists and families), though based in a different coastal geography.
- La Jolla Cove Boat Tours: La Jolla-based kayak and small vessel tour operator with whale watching components. Adjacent competitor in the San Diego marine tourism market for tourists seeking wildlife encounters.
- Captain Dave's Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari: Dana Point, California operator offering dolphin and whale watching tours. Comparable Southern California whale watching product with similar small-vessel, naturalist-led tour format targeting the same regional tourist pool.
- Newport Coastal Adventure: Newport Beach whale and dolphin watching tour operator. Comparable small-vessel sightseeing whale watching product targeting Southern California visitors, similar pricing and tour duration.
Others
- Maritime Museum of San Diego: San Diego maritime attraction operating historic sailing vessels for public excursions. Adjacent sailing experience provider, occasionally hosts events similar to Next Level Sailing's private charter offerings.
Direct peers
- Hornblower Cruises & Events: Operates whale watching and harbor tours in San Diego Bay under the Harbor Breeze brand. Largest competitor in the local whale watching market, with similar tour duration and pricing tiers.
- Flagship Cruises and Events: San Diego-based operator offering whale watching, harbor cruises, and private charters from the same bay. Directly competes for Next Level Sailing's tourist and corporate charter customers with similar pricing and capacity.
- H&M Landing: San Diego sportfishing and whale watching operator with shared whale watching tours departing from San Diego Bay. Competes for the same individual tourist and family segment with comparable ticket pricing.
Broad incumbents
- City Experiences (Hornblower parent): National cruise and tour operator that owns Harbor Breeze/Hornblower San Diego. Broader portfolio of cruises, water taxis, and sightseeing tours provides scale advantages but lacks Next Level Sailing's singular iconic-vessel positioning.
Emerging players
- Island Packers: Ventura/Channel Islands operator offering whale watching excursions. Comparable nature-focused wildlife tour model with smaller vessel capacity, similar reliance on seasonal whale migration patterns.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Next Level Sailing social profiles
Digital presenceNext Level Sailing financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Next Level Sailing leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Next Level Sailing funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Next Level Sailing M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Next Level Sailing
What does Next Level Sailing do?
Next Level Sailing operates daily, year-round 3-hour whale watching tours from San Diego Bay aboard the 139-foot Yacht America (a replica of the 1851 America's Cup winner) with capacity for 76-77 passengers. The company also books private charters for corporate events, weddings, rehearsal dinners, birthdays, anniversaries, reunions, engagement parties, bridal showers, and film/media productions, with optional catering and private dining from San Diego restaurants.
Is Next Level Sailing a public or private company?
Next Level Sailing is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Next Level Sailing founded?
Next Level Sailing was founded in 2003. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Next Level Sailing based?
Next Level Sailing is headquartered in San Diego, United States, in the North America region.
How does Next Level Sailing make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Whale Watching Tours are the primary driver. The others are private Charters and gift Cards.
Who are Next Level Sailing's main competitors?
Regional players on record are Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching, La Jolla Cove Boat Tours, Captain Dave's Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari and Newport Coastal Adventure. Maritime Museum of San Diego is listed as an others. Direct peers are Hornblower Cruises & Events, Flagship Cruises and Events and H&M Landing. City Experiences (Hornblower parent) is listed as a broad incumbent. Island Packers is listed as an emerging player.
Does Next Level Sailing have an API?
No public API is recorded for Next Level Sailing.
What industry is Next Level Sailing in?
Next Level Sailing's product category is Whale Watching and Sailing Tour Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAAAIAC, Whale Watching & Marine Mammal Tours, with a secondary code of THAJALAE, Private Yacht & Luxury Boat Charters (With Crew). Its NAICS code is 48721 and its SIC code is 7900.