Serene Sail on the York

Serene Sailing on the York

People ask, “Is it serene on a sailboat?” On a serene afternoon, we sailed the York for an hour before the wind shifted and died. Two parties on board had a wonderful time. Yes, we saw those elusive two dolphins, but only for a moment. Kathy and Mark Walkenhorst were on vacation from suburban Detroit, […]

Sail Army & Marines

Sail Army & Marines

Sailing attracts a different demographic, usually better educated and more outdoors oriented. Now and then you run into people who are not only fascinating but selfless. On this day we sailed with a police office, an Army soldier and a hospital nurse. John Barkas is training at Ft. Eustis in helicopter repair, Blackhawks to be […]

Memories of Six-Meter Sailboats

Memories of Six-Meter Sailboats

Two couples from Arlington came to Williamsburg and celebrated their dual anniversaries by sailing the York River. They navigated a beautiful east wind that eventually turned to a light rain. A Florida sailor and her friend joined us in a fast day of excitement. Denisse Paz reluctantly took the wheel instead of her beau Jay Sasporlas, […]

Four Couples Sail the York

Four Couples Sail the York

People ask, “Do couples enjoy sailing?” Sailing gets in your blood, as discovered with two of four couples sailing the York River on a magnificent spring day with 10-12 mph winds. The couples were open completely to capture the adventure. Two couples sailed in the morning and two in the afternoon. Years ago John Tropilo […]

Sailing Near Dolphins

A lovely couple from Hampton Roads moved to Maryland and like to return to Williamsburg on vacation. In all those years, they hadn’t sailed the York River until now. As part of the adventure, we saw a fleeting glimpse of two or three dolphins swimming toward us. They disappeared under the hull as quickly as they surfaced. Then […]

Boating Fails and Tales

Bizarre Boating Tales

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlEdBRv7B-k “We went offshore in New Jersey looking for bait fish,” said Colleen McGowan while taking her children for a sailing lesson on the York River. Hers is the first of several bizarre boating tales this season encountered by Let’s Go Sail. “We ran into a crowd of fish so great that it felt like there […]

Mega-Yacht Sails into York

Mega-Yacht Sails into York

A 142-foot mega-yacht sailed into the York River before landing at York River Yacht Haven. It trailed a substantial tender with three outboard engines. Out in the middle of the river, the yacht stopped to reel in the boat hawser so a driver could get aboard. He proceeded ahead of the yacht, criss crossing the […]

Serenity Sailing, Then Dolphins

Serenity Sailing, Then Deolphins

A York County woman took her family sailing on the York River and found it a serene setting of mild winds and warm breezes, part of the outdoor fun near Yorktown. The anticipation was that of  a family outing. The adventure arrived in the quietude, as they chatted for hours. In the process, we sailed under […]

Chesapeake Sailor Qualifies

Chesapeake Sailor Qualifies

Alex Grunsfeld completed all three on-the-water tests for SailTime Virginia Beach by running a 36-foot Hunter outside the shipping lanes of Chesapeake Bay. He brought his wife and children out on Mother’s Day, and it’s one they’ll remember. He did great in rising winds of 15-18 mph, gusting over 20. As a result of reefing both […]

Sailing Near the Navy

Sailing Near the Navy

A dreary day on the York River perked up with the siting of an exceptional Navy ship. It was quite an adventure. Amy and John McCarthy took a long-awaited sail with their daughter C.C. and her boyfriend Chris Coe, in town from Ketchum, Idaho. C.C. sailed competitively in high school, so she had no trouble […]