Captain's Blog

Sailing Back to the 1600s

Sailing Back to the 1600s

My typical history cruise covers the battles of the Capes and Yorktown, but this one had us sailing back to the 1600s. Kate and John Jesberg drove up from Virginia Beach to take their friend Gayle Smith sailing on the York River. But instead of heading east, we motored northwest.

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Sailing with Culinary & Musical Artists

Sailing with Culinary & Music Artists

A couple from Maryland and a couple from Charlottesville who had never met had a great time on vacation when they went sailing near Willliamsburg. Cooler temperatures and a steady 10 mph east wind made it easy to run four tacks downriver under 20% reefed sails. Pam Beasley had never

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Sail Washed Out

Sail Washed Out

Matt and Jen Fodor of suburban Philadelphia took their three strapping boys sailing in a fine easterly breeze on the York River. Dillon Fodor took the helm and held stead through three tacks before we saw darkening clouds ten miles to the north. I checked the radar and a cell

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Navy on Parade

Navy on Parade

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

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Best Sail of July

Best Sail of July

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

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Sailing with Dad

Sailing with Dad

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

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Sailing to England

Sailing to England

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

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Sailing the Gamut

Sailing the Gamut

  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

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Sailing with Dolphins

Sailing with Dolphins

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

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Sailing Peacefully

Sailing Peacefully

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

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