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 going downwind on the spin […]
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 river, and you can walk […]
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 the boys to Colonial Williamsburg […]
Sailing Past Vegas
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 went to Nashville and Washington […]
Sailing Aircraft Carriers
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 in Sara Creek before the […]
Best and Worst Sails
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 need to explain things. Flying […]
International Sail
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 of William & Mary. “It’s […]
Naval Observatory
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 a seven-year Navy electrician was […]
Community Sailing
Question: Why are some people more compassionate than others? Answer: They serve their community nobly. Every now and then you run into someone whose job is a stunning reflection of community service. Sometimes they’re a couple. Brooke and Jamie Bugg came from Monroe, Georgia to Williamsburg for their wedding anniversary. She said, “We work different […]
Family Sailing
Question: What’s the best sailing? Answer: With family. Family sailing is the best because it brings out fond memories and not-so-fond. Sara Beauchamp took her beau and her parents sailing near Williamsburg on bright, beautiful day with brisk winds. Her dad recalled their family cottage on Lake Erie, where they traveled during the summer from Buffalo. […]
Navy Captain Sailing
Question: What’s it like with a Navy captain sailing? Answer: It shows the river from a different perspective. Retired Capt. Terry Culton took his wife Helen and their son and his wife sailing on the York River on a quiet morning with almost no breeze. He’s familiar with these waters, having commanded many a Navy […]
Sailing with Dolphins
Question: What’s the best thing to see on the water? Answer: Dolphins! Nick Haller brought his family to Williamsburg from Frederick, Maryland, where he is the chef of the community hospital. While sailing in light breezes on a sunny morning, the first of 20 or dolphin started frolicking with the boat. They swam near […]
Sailing on Rising Winds
Question: How do you sail on rising winds? Answer: Keep spilling wind from the sails. Wanda and Bryant Brumfield live in rural Clinton, Louisiana, north of New Orleans. “He’s been boating all his life, but he has always wanted to try sailing,” she explained on the dock. He succeeded quite well. As winds on the York […]
Sailing to the Future
It’s an enduring cliché that young people have it tough coming out of school and finding a job. So it was a pleasant surprise to meet Paige Neidig, whom her parents Connie and Mark Neidig took sailing near Williamsburg along with her sister Samantha and fiancé Seth Weaver. They were on vacation from Wellsville, Pennsylvania. […]
Sailing with Kiwanis
We went sailing with Kiwanis as members and spouses of the Williamsburg Kiwanis Club set sail on the York River on a trip donated by Williamsburg Charter Sails to the Kiwanis Foundation. Its president, Gary Ripple, reported that the fund has grown to $405,000 and yields $20,000 annually for key club projects. Gary is a big […]
Sailing to a Reunion
Members of the Class of 1965 at a public high school in Hershey, Pennsylvania had such a good time at their 50th reunion that they extended it to Williamsburg the following year. Among them was my former colleague Ed Offley. We started out together at The Virginia Gazette, and he went on to a distinguished […]
Learning to Sail
The Monroe family from LaSalle, Illinois, took the afternoon off from touring historical sights to go sailing near Williamsburg. Ed is a dentist and Nanci is his office manager. “We were looking for something fun and different to do,” Nanci said. “This was a surprise to us.” Ed wanted to learn how to sail and […]
Sailing with a Navy Carrier
While sailing the York River with his family, a retired Navy officer told me two stories about sailing with a Navy carrier. He stipulated they were not for attribution., “We were in the North Atlantic on the Navy carrier USS America in 1972. Along comes a 13-meter sailboat whose skipper had no idea how to […]
Sailing to the Ghost Fleet
The term Ghost Fleet applies to three genres, maybe more. The first Ghost Fleet is well known to those living in Tidewater Virginia as the Ghost Fleet of US Navy and Merchant Marine ships anchored in the James River off Ft. Eustis. After World War II and for years afterward, the fleet once had more […]
Sailing to Afghanistan
Jennifer and Curtis Miller took their family on a “glam camping” trip to the York River, and we wound up sailing to Afghanistan. They are active duty Air Force, so they drove from nearby Langley AFB to Cheatham Annex, east of Williamsburg. There the Navy has decked out the old commandant’s compound into weekend getaways. […]