Kamal Return as the Kamal Nyckel, the tall ship of Delaware. motored into Yorktown for what has now become an annual visit. The ship will be here through June 14. Tours along Riverwalk Landing are usually free. To go sailing on it, tickets run $40-$75 for morning and afternoon runs June 11-14. Better yet, join Let’s Go Sail and we’ll zoom past them.
Correction: It left Yorktown the next day for Harborfest 2025 in Norfolk and will return next week.
Update: Kamal proved a handy prop for the History Tour. The ship is massive. I once radioed her captain to say that I have 1,000 feet of line on my sailboat, including the dock lines. How much do you have? She came back pronto, “Eight miles!”
Yet the ship is puny by 18th century standards as it was built in 1625. We could sail around her and count four cannons on one side and four on another. By contrast, the warships in the Battle of the Capes had, 60, 70 and 80 cannon. Adm. DeGrasse’s flagship Ville de Paris was in the battle and was the largest battleship in the world with 104 guns. And 1,100 sailors and soldiers. Imagine feeding 1,100 men. As we circled the ship, we could see weird facemasks on the elegant stern. Perhaps lost crew at sea?
Canadian Sailors
Rod Nickel and Darlene May went sailing on a mild day in light winds. They’re from Ontario and I wanted to show them the famous tall ship that resembles his name, but it had already left.
They talked about the Rideau Canal, which stretches 202 kilometers from Ottawa to Lake Ontario. “In the winter, people skate on it,” Darlene said. “In Ottawa, it extends seven miles and people skate to work,” Rod added.
They have a comedian named Rich Mercer who has done man-in-the-street interviews with Americans to demonstrate their ignorance about Canada. He asked people if Canada deserved a Navy and many said no because it doesn’t have any need for one. The country is landlocked, right? The video is hilarious.
Florida Sailors
Bryan and Ashley Dowdell of Vero Beach FL took their two daughters sailing for the first time. For the first time in several days, the wind picked up and offered exciting heeling. The couple work in public education. “I teach first grade!” Bryan said proudly.
I was surprised by that. “So are the parents,” he added. “Being a man helps during the parent-teacher conferences because parents are less confrontational with me than they are with women. I tell my colleagues that it’s clearly discriminatory but there’s nothing we can about parental behavior.”
Ashley, who’s starting work in the private sector of education, said parents push hard for individualized education programs, even at first grade. “There’s a financial incentive because they get a stipend for it from the state.”
Sure enough, I looked it up and parents can qualify for an IEP Scholarship that awards $500 per child.
Military Sail
After a week of dreary weather in which rain was predicted erroneously for five days in a row, only one couple bailed for fear of rain.
Kesha Bruington of nearby Hampton put together a group of veterans and first responders under the sponsorship of Higher Ground USA. They take vets on adventures to help them recover from all manner of PTSD. Everything from rock climbing to hiking to kayaking to fishing and now sailing.
Everyone had a fine time in winds of 10 mph. Kesha had lost her 30-year-old son a year earlier in a drunk-driving incident, and she told me later that this was an especially good day of distraction. She plans to take more vets and responders on future sails this summer.
Speaking of Higher Ground, the City of Williamsburg completed in a few hours its biennial regrading of Quarterpath Road. Not semi-annual as in twice a year, but biennial as in every two years. The half-mile stretch is the last dirt road of any city in Virginia. They won’t pave it because the bridge is only one lane and will eventually become a walking path for a nearby development. For now, it’s shaped up to Civil War standards, which is apropos because the Civil War Redoubt Park is just up the hill.
New Sailor I
A young man named Aaron moved in with a 23-foot sailboat. I’ve been helping him adjust the lines and given him a few tips along the way. Here he is on a solo sail, contemplating the meaning of life as the boat reflects off the water. All of us can relate to learning how to sail and how to work the boat. I tell people that if they ever find something better than sailing, let me know.
Women enjoy sailing today more than ever, and particularly a romantic cruise. Couples get to enjoy a romantic getaway as they sit up on the bow for privacy, and Let’s Go Sail provides professional photos for free. First-time or skilled mariners are welcome to sail a modern-32-foot sailboat in a unique setting of wildlife and Fall foliage or Spring bloom. It makes for an extraordinary anniversary idea.
New Sailor II
The Post family of Jersey Shore PA went sailing on a brisk summer day of 10 mph westerlies. I put their teenage son Kevin on the helm, and he never let go. He navigated through gusty winds that shifted direction slightly, always maintaining a close reach for speed. Some people are naturals who can virtually see the wind and adapt instantly. The expression on Kevin’s face reflects his success.
Marathon Sailors
Beth & Jim Nolan of Elkton MD atop the Chesapeake Bay had the boat all to themselves on a cloudy but breezy weekday. They mentioned a museum at the Head of Elk that talks about the Revolutionary War. It was there that Gen. Washington sent down barges with troops and cannons for Yorktown.
They both run marathons. “Beth got me into it, since she’s been doing it a long time,” Jim explained. I asked her best time. “Four hours and 35 minutes,” she said. “Oddly, my hardest run was in the Disney Marathon because it was totally flat land, as opposed to hilly and different.” Jim said, “We run seven to 10 miles a day and 20 on Sunday, roughly 40 miles a week.” Beth added, “If we go without running for two weeks, we begin to lose the edge.” Miraculously, they reported no knee problems.
Let’s Go Sail as Kamal Returns
Check the “Book A Cruise” tab and pick a day for a sailboat charter. Scroll down reviews on Trip Advisor. Go back to the home page of Williamsburg Charter Sails.
The best Williamsburg boat tour offers safe sailing daily for up to 6 people. It’s an extraordinary experience for couples. Leave your worries behind. Enjoy the thrill of moving with the wind without a care in the world. Put life back on an even keel with a romantic experience for a birthday or anniversary. 3-hour sailboat cruise as a semi-private yachting charter lets you exhale and relax as you enjoy comfort, stability and speed.
York River Sailboat Tour / An unforgettable Boat Tour / Ideal for Couples
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