David Pack of Ambrosia Live with Yachty by Nature

We are still reeling—in the absolute best possible way—from performing live with David Pack of Ambrosia at the 2026 San Diego Yacht Rock Festival.

There are great shows, there are milestone shows, and then there are those rare nights when everything comes together so perfectly that you know you will be talking about it for the rest of your life. The sold-out San Diego Yacht Rock Festival at Liberty Station was one of those nights for Yachty by Nature. A beautiful San Diego crowd, an incredible collection of yacht rock bands, a genuine feeling of camaraderie throughout the day, and the chance to perform with one of the true architects of the music we love: David Pack of Ambrosia, the legendary singer, songwriter, guitarist, and unmistakable voice behind some of the genre’s most enduring songs.

Even now, it is hard to put the whole experience into words. We have spent ten years building Yachty by Nature, traveling from coast to coast, playing the greatest smooth-rock songs of the late 1970s and early 1980s, and doing everything we can to honor this music while creating a show that feels alive, fun, and completely our own. But standing onstage beside David Pack and playing three of the most iconic songs in the yacht rock catalog was something beyond anything we could have imagined when we started this voyage.

A Sold-Out Celebration of Yacht Rock in San Diego

The energy at the San Diego Yacht Rock Festival was there from the beginning. The festival brought together fans who truly love this music, many of them dressed in their finest captain’s hats, tropical shirts, nautical gear, and full yacht rock regalia. It was the kind of crowd that arrived ready to sing, dance, laugh, and celebrate every harmony, saxophone line, guitar solo, and instantly recognizable opening chord.

There was an extra spark in the air because the event was sold out. Every band dreams of walking into a festival and feeling that kind of excitement before the first note is played. San Diego showed up in a huge way, and the audience gave every performer the kind of enthusiastic response that makes live music so special.

The day also reminded us that yacht rock is more than a playlist or a collection of songs from a certain era. It has become a real community. The camaraderie between the bands was one of the best parts of the festival. Yachty by Nature was proud to share the lineup with Dirty Yachtin’ Scoundrels from Arizona and Böaterhead from Ohio, with Captain Adam of Yacht Rock Radio keeping the voyage on course as host. Each band brought its own personality, musicianship, and regional flavor, but everyone shared the same goal: give the crowd an unforgettable day of smooth music and maximum fun.

There was no sense of competition backstage—only mutual respect, encouragement, laughs, and a shared appreciation for the music. That spirit carried onto the stage and into the crowd. When bands support one another, the audience feels it, and the entire festival becomes bigger than any single performance. That is exactly what happened in San Diego.

Welcoming David Pack of Ambrosia to the Yachty by Nature Stage

Then came the moment we had all been anticipating.

David Pack of Ambrosia joined Yachty by Nature onstage.

For anyone who loves yacht rock, Ambrosia’s music is essential. David Pack did not simply sing some songs that later became part of the genre—he helped create the sound, emotion, craftsmanship, and sophistication that define it. His voice is instantly recognizable. His songs combine unforgettable melodies with gorgeous harmonies, brilliant musicianship, and lyrics that still connect with people decades later.

We had the honor of backing David on three Ambrosia classics: “How Much I Feel,” “You’re the Only Woman,” and “Biggest Part of Me.” Just typing those titles brings the whole experience rushing back.

Ambrosia Smooth

“How Much I Feel” is one of those songs that stops people in their tracks. From the opening notes, the audience knew exactly what was coming. Hearing David sing it live while we played behind him was surreal. The emotion in his voice, the reaction from the crowd, and the realization that we were participating in a live performance of a song that has meant so much to so many people made the moment incredibly powerful.

“You’re the Only Woman” brought another wave of recognition and emotion. It has all the qualities we love about this music: a deep groove, an irresistible chorus, sophisticated musical details, and a vocal that feels both intimate and enormous. Looking out and seeing the audience singing every word with David was pure magic.

And then there was “Biggest Part of Me.” Few songs capture the heart of yacht rock more completely. The harmonies, the groove, the romance, and that unmistakable chorus filled Liberty Station as thousands of voices joined together. Playing it with the man who wrote and sang it was not merely another song in our set. It was a career highlight and a full-circle moment for Yachty by Nature.

We work hard to play this music with accuracy, respect, energy, and joy. We are also proud to play it 100 percent live, with real musicians responding to one another in the moment. Sharing that live musical connection with David Pack was thrilling. He was generous, gracious, spontaneous, and completely present with the band and the audience. Those songs were already meaningful to us, but after this performance, they will carry an entirely new meaning every time we play them.

The Beatles Surprise Nobody Saw Coming

As if performing three Ambrosia classics with David Pack were not enough, the night gave us one more completely unexpected moment.

David launched into an impromptu version of the Beatles’ “I Saw Her Standing There.”

To be clear: we had never played it before.

There was no carefully rehearsed arrangement waiting in our back pocket. There was no long discussion about how we would approach it. David simply called it, and suddenly we were off. For a split second, there was that look musicians give one another when everyone realizes the same thing at once: “All right—here we go!”

That is the beauty and the danger of truly live music. You listen, trust your instincts, watch one another, and jump. The band locked in, David led the way, and the crowd exploded. What could have been a moment of panic became one of the loosest, most joyful, and most unforgettable parts of the entire festival.

There was something perfect about ending this extraordinary collaboration with a Beatles song. The Beatles inspired generations of musicians, including many of the artists who later shaped the sophisticated West Coast sound we now call yacht rock. “I Saw Her Standing There” brought the event back to the purest reason any of us started playing music in the first place: because it is exciting, spontaneous, communal, and fun.

We were shocked. We laughed. We were hanging on for the ride. And we would not have wanted it any other way.

What a way to cap an amazing day.

A Festival Built on Music and Camaraderie

The San Diego Yacht Rock Festival demonstrated exactly why this music continues to grow across generations. Longtime fans know every deep cut, every harmony, and every legendary musician. Newer fans may first arrive because the style, humor, fashion, and nostalgia look like fun. But once the music starts, everyone understands that these songs have lasted because they are exceptionally well written and played.

The musicianship matters. The melodies matter. The memories matter. And the community forming around the music matters too.

We loved seeing fans connect with one another throughout the day. We savored catching up with friends who have supported Yachty by Nature for years and meeting people who were seeing us for the first time. We loved the conversations with the other bands, the backstage encouragement, and the sense that everyone involved was helping build something special together.

San Diego has always been an incredible place for live music, and Liberty Station gave the festival a setting worthy of the occasion. A sold-out crowd in Southern California, several of the country’s most entertaining yacht rock bands, and a legendary artist singing the songs that helped define the genre—this was the kind of day the San Diego Yacht Rock Festival was created to deliver.

We are deeply grateful to the festival organizers, production crew, fellow bands, Captain Adam, every person working behind the scenes, and every fan who bought a ticket and filled the venue. You created the atmosphere that allowed something unforgettable to happen.

San Diego to Orlando:  The Voyage Continued

There was barely time to catch our breath after San Diego because the S.S. Yachty by Nature was headed east.

On September 25, we performed in Orlando at Live! at the Pointe for the venue’s second-anniversary celebration. It was another chance to bring our California yacht rock energy to the East Coast and celebrate with a crowd ready for the biggest smooth hits of the 1970s and 1980s. Orlando gave us an incredible welcome and reminded us why we love taking this show across the country.

That concert was the first stop on an East Coast weekend that was originally supposed to include a once-in-a-lifetime opening slot for the Beach Boys at High Point University on September 26. We were thrilled by the opportunity. The Beach Boys are foundational to the California sound, and opening for them at High Point University’s Family Weekend would have been an enormous honor.

Unfortunately, the Beach Boys had to cancel. We were disappointed for the university, the fans, and everyone who had looked forward to seeing them. Then came the call: Yachty by Nature would step up and headline PantherPalooza inside the beautiful Nido and Mariana Qubein Arena and Conference Center.

It was a major responsibility and an unexpected turn in the voyage. We knew that many people had originally planned their evening around seeing one of America’s most legendary bands. Our job was to honor the occasion, bring everything we had, and make sure the crowd still got a night to remember. High Point University responded in a massive way.

The crowd gave us so much energy, enthusiasm, and love from the first song to the last. Students, parents, families, alumni, and university supporters jumped aboard together. They sang, danced, cheered, and transformed what could have felt like a disappointment into a genuine celebration.  And lemme tell you, when we began the Dolly Parton tribute on 9 to 5, the arena went bananas!!!

Panther Palooza

Then the messages began pouring in. HPU families called it “fantastic,” “amazing,” “entertaining and fun,” and “the BEST time.” One parent told us the concert was “a send off for their senior year,” while another wrote, “My daughter and I had a blast!” A fan seated stage left thanked both the band and HPU for such a great show, and another summed up the night perfectly: “I had the best time at this concert! Thank you, Yachty by Nature!”

Those responses meant the world to us. They came from parents enjoying Family Weekend with their sons and daughters, students celebrating together, longtime friends who traveled to see us, and new fans discovering Yachty by Nature for the first time. The comments were not about what the evening had lost when the original headliner canceled. They were about what everyone in that arena created together: a joyful, high-energy night that became its own special memory.

We were honored to be trusted with the headline spot.  But even more grateful for the way the HPU community embraced us. A live show is always a two-way exchange. The band brings the music and energy, but the crowd decides how far the night can go. High Point took it all the way.

In the span of eight days, we experienced a sold-out San Diego Yacht Rock Festival with David Pack, a huge anniversary party in Orlando, and an unexpected arena-headlining performance at High Point University. That is a stretch of shows we will never forget.

Next Stop: A Yacht Rock Weekend in Cancún

How do you follow a run like that?

You take the yacht rock party to Mexico.

From November 13 through November 16, 2026, Yachty by Nature is heading to the Iberostar Selection Riviera Cancún.  Let’s go for the first NextTrip LIVE Destination Music Experience. This will be much more than a single concert. It is being created as a multi-day destination getaway.  In fact, it is combining resort accommodations, live entertainment, themed poolside experiences, fan engagement.  More importantly, the location is a tropical atmosphere that yacht rock dreams are made of.

Yachty by Nature will be joined by Cuban-American country artist Orlando Mendez.  In fact, his national breakthrough included a four-chair turn on The Voice. It is a unique pairing of two energetic live acts in a spectacular destination, giving fans a chance to turn a concert weekend into a full vacation.

Honestly, could there be a more natural setting for Yachty by Nature than the turquoise water, sunshine, pools, and tropical nights of Riviera Cancún?

This is your invitation to come aboard. Bring your favorite people. Pack the resort wear, captain’s hat, sunglasses, and dancing shoes. Spend the days enjoying Cancún and the nights singing along with the band. After the connection we felt with the crowds in San Diego, Orlando, and High Point, we cannot wait to continue the adventure with fans in Mexico.

Still Reeling—and Still Sailing

The past few weeks have reminded us why we started Yachty by Nature in the first place. We wanted to perform incredible music with great musicians, give audiences a joyful escape, and build a community that could travel with us from city to city. Ten years later, that voyage has taken us nationwide—and now beyond.

Playing live with David Pack of Ambrosia was one of the greatest honors in our band’s history. Performing “How Much I Feel,” “You’re the Only Woman,” and “Biggest Part of Me” with the voice and creative force behind those timeless songs was thrilling enough. Surviving—and loving—the surprise Beatles finale made it even more unforgettable.

To David Pack: thank you for your trust, generosity, musicianship, and spontaneity. Sharing the stage with you was a dream come true.

To the San Diego Yacht Rock Festival crowd: thank you for selling out the event and bringing such incredible energy.

To Dirty Yachtin’ Scoundrels, Böaterhead, Captain Adam, the organizers, crews, and everyone who made the day possible.  Thank you for the camaraderie and for helping create a true celebration of the music.

To Orlando and High Point University: thank you for welcoming the S.S. Yachty by Nature and turning our East Coast trip into something spectacular.

And to everyone who has followed, shared, commented, danced, dressed up, bought a ticket, or brought a friend to a Yachty by Nature show.  You are the biggest part of this!

We are still reeling. We are still smiling. And we are already looking toward the next horizon.

Cancún, get ready. Yachty by Nature is coming November 13–16, and the smoothest voyage yet may be just beginning.

Keep it smooth—and we will see you aboard.

Feel free to click here for our LAST yacht rock blog post 🙂