Sailing Excitement

Sailing Excitement

Let’s face it: Some people have more exciting jobs than others. When you combine that with exciting sailing, it’s energizing. Brittany Luth and Amy Meadors of Richmond took a Saturday off on a “mom-cation” from their husbands and kids. We sailed in brisk winds of 12 mph, tacking down the York River all the way […]

Sailing Surprise

Sailing Surprise

Jenny and Rey Mendez of New York City surprised his parents and their three children with a sailing cruise on the York River. They thought they were going to Jamestown. The parents took off for town, while we went sailing and had a lot of fun. Their older son Steven was delighted because he earned […]

Sailing with Ships

Sailing with Ships

An exciting day of the month on the water saw a parade of ships pass by. First, a Navy hover craft zoomed up the York River on an exercise. Next, a Moran tug lumbered upriver from Norfolk en route to the Naval Weapons Station. Then, off in the distance six miles away, another Moran tug led […]

Another Horror Story

Another Horror Story

Here’s another horror story, recalled fondly by Faith Olen of Lynchburg. We were sailing past the Coast Guard Training Center dock, which triggered her memory. “My father used to take me out on his old wooden boat along the Potomac River. It was a motorboat with two big honking diesels. We were downriver in Maryland […]

Sail Fast

Sail Fast

Two retired couples set out on an adventure to sail fast on the water with brisk winds and clearing skies. Brian McNelis is looking to take the ASA 101 course in Norfolk, and Rick Baumler joined him in a preliminary class on the York River. Their wives were good sports to go along. Here’s what they […]

Sailing to Experience

Sailing to Experience

Three discrete groups enjoyed a mild day sailing to experience without the distractions of work. They enjoyed some family bonding, a surprise birthday sail, and a farewell adventure tour while deploying the big spinnaker sail. Robert Stevens brought his 14-year-old grandson Chris Metz from Fort Worth, Texas. Robert used to sail 40- and 44-foot sailboats […]

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 of thunderstorms had popped up. […]

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 York River. As it headed […]

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 took a sailing course in […]

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 sailing with you, but that […]