Sailing with AARP

I get asked, “What’s the best publicity you ever got for sailing?” The best promotion I ever encountered was a page 1 piece in the AARP newspaper, supplemented by a terrific video. We had a blast sailing with AARP.

Let’s go sail the York River, where couples enjoy a serene three hours. Take one of 6 sailing adventures near the Chesapeake Bay for your best vacation excursion: Adventure, Event, Appreciation, History, Lessons, Boat Buying. Sit in the catbird seat or up on the bow.

While getting ready at the dock to host the video crew, I heard the Navy announce over marine radio, “Attention all boats in the vicinity of the Coleman Bridge, this is the United States Navy announcing a submarine transiting the vicinity. All vessels are to stay 500 yards away in all directions. Repeat, 500 yards.”

That was unusual since we rarely see subs at the Yorktown Naval Weapons Station. They are super-secret and train extensively to reload at sea. Of course, it boggles the mind to think they would need to reload at sea, given that they have a 154 Tomahawk missiles on board. They should go sailing with AARP. Boom!

Another oddity was the announcement itself. It violated the stealthy behavior that subs maintain. A few minutes later came the announcement a second time. This was going to get exciting today.

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Three members of a freelance photo/video team out of New York arrived to board for a short trip across to Yorktown. Our neighbors Sue and Mike Carruth joined Bonnie and me for the shoot. As we motored across the river, we could see the sub in the dock and two Moran tugboats departing back to Norfolk. Dustin Cohen, Matt Clegg and Austin Daniels spent hours shooting video and stills from all over the boat as we were sailing with AARP.

At Riverwalk Landing, dockmaster Sue Ripley caught the boat at perfect high tide. I try to avoid Yorktown because of the wicked mid-tide currents that can buffet the boat badly. As luck would have it, we took a rolling wake from the tugboats as they chugged past Yorktown. Two smaller Navy patrol boats left as well, with their .30 caliber guns on the bow.

At Yorktown, we did two shots of the Carruths boarding the boat for an afternoon sail. We motored under the bridge and passed the sub snug on the Navy pier. You had to look carefully to see the conn, or the “sail” as they call it in the Navy. By proceeding upriver just past the sub, we caught the sunlight bouncing off the hull. It was magnificent to see.

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Meanwhile another Navy patrol boat ran interference between us and the sub. Mike asked if we knew the name, and I didn’t even know the class—either Los Angeles or Virginia. Mike knew about the Tomahawks.

We turned 180 degrees and flew the spinnaker all the way back to the bridge and under it. Eventually the wind shifted to the east and everyone got to sail the boat on multiple short tacks. Downriver we turned again and hoisted the spinnaker for the ride home. Never before have I run the spin twice in the same day.

Back at the dock, the video crew collected their formidable equipment. Matt said he had to double check his lenses because a few months ago he misplaced the case holding them. I asked Dustin what the lenses were worth, and he said $50,000.

AARP Second Careers

The AARP piece is part of a 22-part series of second careers pursued by retired people. They show how, in my case, a defrocked newspaper publisher can turn on a dime and change course productively. From the text AARP newspaper:

Why he did it: After 42 years with The Virginia Gazette newspaper, I was laid off at age 65. Fortunately, part of my job was to schmooze advertising clients and news sources, and I did that by taking them sailing on my boat on the York River. I was spending more than 100 days a year on the water, and that just happened to be what I needed to get Coast Guard certification and start sailing professionally.

How he succeeded: I printed up brochures and took out ads in the local papers. But what really helped was setting up a blog on my website. That helps with Google searches. Through my blogs and TripAdvisor, I’ve grown the business rapidly.

What you need to know: What matters is business strategy. I studied other sailing businesses, then copied their best practices.

Here’s a look at the others profiled, based on their previous and current lives. It’s fascinating how some people traded one challenging career for another—and quite lucratively as well. It seems logical for someone in law enforcement to shift over to air rescue. But take a look at the pharmacist who became an airline flight attendant. Or the art director with LEGO becoming a reference librarian. Wow.

Organizational Trainer, 68 >> Dog Walker, $40,000

Corporate Philanthropist, 70 >> Company CEO, $100,000

Law Enforcement, 66 >> Air Rescue, $53,000

Media Professional, 67 >> Personal Trainer, $30,000

Pastor & Teacher, 74/70 >> Innkeepers, $160,000

Schoolteacher, 75 >> Real Estate Agent, up to $90,000

History Teacher, 67 >> Bicycle Tour Guide, $40-$100 hour

Artist & Attorney, 72/65 >> Organic Farmers, $100,000 sales

Oil Industry Product Manager, 59 >> Store Owner, $0 first year

Real Estate Broker, 52 >> Skin Care Entrepreneur, $100,000

Lobbyist & TV Producer, 57 >> Company Founder, $120,000

Attorney, 79 >> Photographer, $5,000

Electrician, 68 >> Park Ranger, $15,000

Pharmacist, 58 >> Flight Attendant, $38,000

Court Reporter, 67 >> Physician, $250,000

Lab Chemist, 63 >> Nurse, $70,000

Cafeteria Manager, 58 >> Massage Therapist, $30,000

IT Quality Assurance, 61 >> Voiceover Artist, $20,000

Art Director for LEGO, 57 >> Reference Librarian, $45,000

Flight Attendant, 66 >> Inventor, $100,000

Electrician, 65 >> Attorney, up to $30,000

23rd Anniversary Sail

Chantell Peatross took her husband Kevin for a brisk sail on their 23rd wedding anniversary. We shot out the river on 12 mph winds from the northeast, racing to the old refinery dock. Chantell was a natural on the helm, heeling to 20 and 25 degrees while trying to stay the course. I got her to remove her high heels for better traction, which she appreciated. 

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. 

She said, “All our children are grown, so now it’s time us to do something now. This is wonderful. I could do this all day.”

On the flip side, I put them up on the bow and took a beam reach to the bridge and under to get a closer look at another submarine that came in quietly overnight. We got close enough that they could see it with my binoculars, along with the Navy patrol boat. We also saw a barge replacing a longstanding Danger sign that someone crushed during the bridge transit. Try that sailing with AARP.

Afterward, Chantell said, “I spent my youth on the water, fishing in Newport News and Topping. We got up at dark to go, and we got home at dark. Now I want to get back on the water. We’ll be back, with family, to sail again.”

Sail Hard

Two back-to-back sails totaling nearly 40 miles traced the same route under excellent winds.

Laura Elizabeth Saunders and her husband Paul took her father Ed Mann and mom Rosa sailing to recapture earlier days on the water. Right off the bat, Rosa was pleased. “Oh look, a Hunter. We had 36, 38 and 44 Hunters. This is beautiful.” The helm was all-Ed since this was his birthday gift. “We used to sail out of Deltaville,” he said. “First, we were at Stingray Point and eventually Dozier’s. They had some big boats there.” We lamented the premature death of Jack Dozier and later the fire at Dozier’s Urbanna, which killed two people and destroyed the entire marina. “The secret to sailing,” Rosa joked, “is to keep  your eye on the destination. For four hours, we were headed to the same spot!” They certainly weren’t sailing with AARP.

Ed said, “We had friends at Stingray who named their Hunter 40 Kids R Gone I and then Kid R Gone II. He was very particular about the boat and was always giving advice.”We talked about crossing the Potomac, which is a big stretch and can be wicked if the fetch is wrong. “I was on Kids R Gone in a squall as we crossed the Potomac, and he was very good at the helm. Seas were running three feet.” Later I sent Ed a link to rental sailboats in Deltaville to get him back on the water.

Let’s Go Sailing with AARP                                                

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sailing with AARP sailing with AARP sailing with AARP

Find happiness and health outdoors near Williamsburg with exciting fun on an anniversary or birthday. Great memories! Learn navigation to become a sailor. See birds, dolphins, maybe a Navy submarine. Bring your dog. Let’s go on a romantic sail. Sit up on the bow for privacy. First-timers or skilled mariners can learn to sail fast on a cruise Near Williamsburg VA. They get to sail a modern 32-foot sailboat in a unique setting of wildlife and Spring foliage. Professional photos for free. Enjoy a romantic getaway. Sail the warm breezes of Spring and Summer. A unique and intriguing event, as well as an extraordinary anniversary idea.

Let’s Go on a Romantic Sail. Sit up on the bow for privacy. First-timers or skilled mariners can learn to sail fast on a cruise Near Williamsburg VA. They get to sail a modern 32-foot sailboat in a unique setting of wildlife and Spring foliage. Professional photos for free. Enjoy a romantic getaway. Sail the warm breezes of Spring and Summer. A unique and intriguing event, as well as an extraordinary anniversary idea. Take one of 6 sailing adventures near the Chesapeake Bay for your best vacation excursion: Adventure, Event, Appreciation, History, Lessons, Boat Buying. Sit in the catbird seat or up on the bow.

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.

Ideal for Couples

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