It's 11:30 a.m. on a beautiful, unseasonably warm day in Marina del Rey, half an hour before the start time of the Yacht Girls Book Club meeting, but several women are already standing at the door leading to an antique yacht docked at the California Yacht Club.
Nicole Vaughn, a first-time attendee who drove from Woodland Hills with her friend Cani González for the reunion, had been searching for author events on Eventbrite when she came across the Yacht Girls Book Club's “Brunch and Sound Bath,” which also includes a signed copy of the featured author's book, a boat ride and a goodie bag for $65. “I read 'sound bath, poetry and manifestation,' which sounded intriguing, so I said, 'Why not?'” Vaughn says.
Once the door opens, Vaughn, Gonzalez and the others enter, alone or in pairs. Attendees, mostly women, range in age from their 30s to their 70s and wear outfits that include shorts, tank tops, straw hats and glamorous long dresses. There are approximately 60 new and returning members.
Brittany Goodwin, another first-time Mid-City resident who does social marketing and media for HBO Max, also heard about the meeting on Eventbrite. “I saw the word manifestation [in the ad] And I was there! —she says enthusiastically, contemplating the colorful variety of women who arrive. “And today is a full moon, so it's very appropriate.”
That's because the speaker is local poet and author Melody Godfred, whose latest book, “Moon Garden,” caught the attention of Aloni Ford, founder of Yacht Girls and organizer of the gathering.
“I thought Melody would be perfect for the official relaunch of Yacht Girls,” Ford said in an earlier phone conversation. “Its message of self-love and living more authentically is the reason I started the book club in the first place.”
That was in 2018, when Ford, an Altadena-born professional athlete manager and sailing enthusiast who has lived in Marina del Rey for the past decade, was tired of conversations with women that only focused on relationships. “I wanted to have conversations with like-minded women that were intellectual but fun. And talking about books seemed like the ideal way to do that.”
Erin Nelson, left, and Lisa Nelson prepare a brunch dish at the Yacht Girls Book Club.
(Carlin Stiehl / for The Times)
For that first meeting, Ford gathered six women: friends, her masseuse and a favorite aunt. “We talked about Ruth Ware's 'The Woman in Cabin 10,' so I had that first meeting on a local yacht cruise.” After discussion, the women agreed that they wanted to continue meeting and thought of names until Ford suggested Yacht Girls and the book club was launched.
Some of those “OGs” (Ford's term for the original Yacht Girls who attended those first gatherings) now hug each other, introduce themselves to the friends they brought, and recount previous discussions about memoirs and books on self-care, building self-confidence, and financial literacy. Tarzana resident and OG Felicia Smith still remembers the discussion about her favorite book. “It was 'Let your fears make you fierce,'” he says, reaching for his phone to show that the book is still in his audiobook library. Ford remembers that a highlight of those early years was a discussion of Gabrielle Union's memoir, “We're Going to Need More Wine,” which was held at the Malibu Wines & Beer Garden and attracted more than 300 participants. “Whenever I could I tried to match the place with the author,” Ford says of those early meetings.
But then COVID-19 hit, and while she wanted to continue the book club via Zoom, Ford admits, “I'm not a Zoom kind of girl. I need the interaction, the face-to-face connection with women.” Meanwhile, Ford pursued other interests, including sailing, a hobby she picked up in 2023 that sparked ideas for Yacht Yoga and other Yacht Girls female empowerment gatherings.
Ford's chosen venue for Yacht Girls Book Club meetings is the “Northwind,” a lovingly restored 130-foot-old boat that once housed Jacqueline Kennedy in 1961 and is open to members of the California Yacht Club, of which Ford is one. After check-in, attendees are invited to take a ride on a smaller boat docked nearby, enjoy buffet lunch on the main deck, receive a tarot card reading from Ruby Sheng Nichols, or enjoy the sun, ocean breezes, and views of the marina from the upper deck, which is equipped with umbrellas, tables for four, and comfortable lounge chairs, all arranged overlooking the stern of the ship, where Godfred is preparing to read and where Amber Melvisha is installing a bathroom. of sound, which will accompany reading.
1. Felicia Smith listens to Melody Godfred recite poems from her book “Moon Garden.” 2. Members of the Yacht Girls Book Club enjoy brunch. (Carlin Stiehl / for The Times)
Godfred, 43, is delighted to be with such a diverse group of kindred spirits. “I've been craving in-person experiences lately,” she says, “especially with people outside my bubble. This absolutely satisfies that craving.”
Olympia Auset, OG book club and founder of a Noprofit organic grocery store South Central, is satisfied with the participation. “There's a real community spirit in this book club,” he says, after silently taking in the scene.
That spirit is exemplified by Ford, a gregarious hostess who moves among the various groups of women in a diaphanous blue full-length dress, introduces Godfred to a group of attendees, and enthusiastically embraces both the newbies and their OGs. It feels a bit like a reunion, where everyone is part of the big family. “I come to network, to meet women of all levels,” observes View Park resident Alicia Sutton, an OG who proudly displays her original Yacht Girls badge. “We have more in common than we think. We are a group of women of all flag.”
As the women, plus Ty Jessick of Santa Monica, a friend of Ford's and the only man at the event, settle into their seats, Ford greets them again, telling them about the Yacht Girls' early days and his vision for the book club's next chapter. “This is an opportunity to disconnect from our daily lives,” he tells the assembled group, amid nods and murmurs of agreement. “We schedule a lot of things, but we shouldn't forget to schedule joy. Today you might meet your new best friend, a business partner, or just someone who loves books. After our first post-pandemic meeting last fall, we wanted to relaunch the Yacht Girls Book Club in a big way. And after today, I'll definitely be back on those book streets again.”
With that, Ford hands the microphone to Godfred, who shares her own story of immigrating to Los Angeles with her parents from Iran when she was three months old, of being a “recovering lawyer” who ran two businesses and raised three children with her husband, but didn't take time for herself. That abandonment of herself resulted in a health problem, which eventually led Godfred to reconnect with her passion for poetry and self-exploration. “It was a sign to start honoring my truth more fully,” he explains.
After presenting the inspiration behind “Moon Garden,” which contains 12 sections of spiritual poems, ideas and affirmations related to the Earth's lunar cycles, Godfred answers questions posed by Ford and the audience. Then, invite participants to sit comfortably in their seats as you read selections from the book that encourage surrender, rest, and contemplation during the winter months. The sound bath and the ringing of a bell provide a resonant echo in which attendees visibly relax, most with their eyes closed.
Members of the Yacht Girls Book Club enjoy drinks on the upper deck of the “Northwind.”
(Carlin Stiehl / for The Times)
The meeting ends around 2 pm and is followed by a music-filled informal gathering, where participants discuss the book and the afternoon. From her tables in the aft section of the “Northwind,” Vaughn, sitting with González and a group of new acquaintances, says she will definitely return.
“This book club may attract high-achieving women,” Auset says as she gathers with other regular members for a photo opportunity, “but we all need to take time for self-care and community.”
The next Yachting Girls' Book Club will be carried out at noon June 13 at the California Yacht Club with brunch included. The featured book is “Proof of life” by bestselling author and visual artist Jennifer Pastiloff. Pastiloff will be present. Tickets required.
Woods is an editor, author, book reviewer and regular contributor to the Times.
