On a day of light breezes the Silva family of New Milford, Connecticut, enjoyed an exciting sail on vacation. They got to watch the Navy on parade along the York River. First, the destroyer USS Jason Dunham came steaming up from Norfolk. It rounded the turn from York Channel to the
Three parties who had never met joined in on the best sail of July on a windy day along the York River. Donna and John Troy of Charlottesville came to Williamsburg to take their daughter Kerry sailing on her 21st birthday. Donna took the wheel and instinctively got it. “I
Two families enjoyed steady winds on the York River in situations that recalled sailing with Dad. Mark and Barbara Adam brought their twin teenage girls on vacation from Bridgewater, NJ. Mark was itching to take the helm but very adroitly deferred to Megan and later Sarah. Each was reluctant but
On a hot and sultry afternoon, we went sailing to England with a delightful family. “Buckinghamshire is about 30 miles outside London,” said Ken Boyce, who brought his wife Alison and their three grown children. “We travel to the States every other year. We were going to bring my mother
You could say we went Sailing the Gamut, with every conceivable experience on the York River except one. In light but steady winds, the entire Shields family of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, chipped in to help fly the spinnaker. I don’t normally do that on a hot day because the
The Couvion family of suburban St. Louis crossed at least two rivers to go sailing on the York. First the Mississippi and second the James, where they’re staying in a VRBO house near the water while vacationing at Williamsburg. Mike the dad said, “We’re close enough to swim in the
Sometimes it’s good to get away and go sailing peacefully. Danielle and Patrick Arens look like newlyweds but in fact have three small boys back in Fredericksburg. They took the weekend off to go to Virginia Beach and go sailing on the York River. They enjoy history and have taken
Nine eager visitors converged from all over America to experiment and to celebrate with a sailing adventure on the historic York River. Ann and Mark Swindell drove over from Virginia to celebrate their 27th anniversary. “We take a boat trip every year on our anniversary,” Ann said. “Last year we went
On a beautiful, breezy afternoon we took two couples sailing on the York River. Bethany and Daniel Prazuch of Wisconsin were on their honeymoon, while Eric and Trina Smith of Oklahoma were on their second marriage. Eric and Trina have done a lot of domestic traveling. On this trip they
Sailing the York River inspires old memories for Navy personnel. Mike Brennan served aboard not one but three aircraft carriers, so his recollections were mighty big. He described the experience while taking his wife Sharon and two daughters sailing on a quiet afternoon. Just briefly we saw a few dolphins
On the very first day of their vacation in Williamsburg, Sherri and Mike Hanley went sailing from Texas. They took their son and Mike’s mother out on the first breezy day in the previous four. The winds built from the east from zero to 10 mph as the crew learned to heel the
Every summer I take Nanci Bond and Ellen Janoncyzk out on a commemorative sail on the mutual day of their late husbands’ birthday. They were both named Bob. On a virtually still day with the York River like glass, we motored over to the other side of the river and all
Traffic picked up on the York River once the winds came up for the first time in a week. That led Tom Rose to say, “I had to avoid swerving cars three times in the past week because they we’re texting behind the wheel.” No such danger threatened his crew
Light and variable winds reduced the speed, so we experienced a serenity sail on the cooler York River. “The heat doesn’t bother him,” Cate Bell said of her husband Bob Caley. “He’s in the heating and air conditioning business.” Last week Bob hurt his hand removing a water heater from
Cruising along the York River on a lazy summer day inspires people to recall their best and worst sails. On vacation to Williamsburg, Baron Hall of Martinsville brought his wife Allison with their son Brandon and his pal Adam Reed. I turned the helm over to Baron and found little
Guests from different cultures graced the boat on a day of light breezes for an international sail. Few people braved the hot temperatures outdoors, but it was cooler on the York River. Angel Eller was in town from Fredericksburg with her son as he attended Robotics Camp at the College
Three couples from nearby Langley Air Force Base took their last sail together near Williamsburg before they start deploying overseas as physicians. Two are dermatologists and three are anesthesiologists. They had a fun time sailing in gradually rising winds. When the winds subsided we sailed over to the north shore
What are the odds of three unrelated couples from Raleigh who’ve never met winding up on a sailboat charter near Williamsburg? “That’s not all,” said Larry Maccherone. “We live in Cary in the same neighborhood as Katie, a quarter of a mile away.” Larry and his wife Jennifer ere celebrating
There is perhaps no better place than to sail on the bow of a boat along the York River. It’s a great place to contemplate life in the great outdoors as you glide smoothly through the water. You become oblivious to distracting surroundings. People often comment how serene it is
Every ten days or so a Navy ship cruises up the York River. It’s usually headed to the Naval Weapons Station at Yorktown. At least once a month I wind up taking a Navy service member or retiree sailing. This was a twofer, with the SS Cornhusker passing by while