The Start of War

The Start of War focuses on the beginning of the Revolution, at Boston.
Destroyers Compared

Sometimes people ask, “Can you compare Navy ships?” Yes, but preferably in profile. On a whim, Daniel Katekovich took his bride Connie sailing along the York River on their 30th anniversary. She had never been on a sailboat before, “if you don’t count a small catamaran.” She did great as we zoomed across the river […]
Hudson Strategy

Hudson Strategy escribes how the river played a key role in the American Revolution.
Sailing Summer’s End

People ask, “Is Labor Day Weekend busy on the river?” Too busy for me, as a professional mariner. Labor Day weekend brought us to sailing summer’s end. It came complete with all kinds of amateur motorboaters who consistently drove across my bow, sometimes too close. While I lament that so few boats are on the […]
Sailing with Family

The question arises from time to time: “Can you take more than 6 people sailing?” Alas, no, for it’s a USCG license limitation. Karen Gillingham of Yorktown booked a sailing cruise with family, but she didn’t get to go because the USCG limit on six-pac license is six people. Her husband Ron turned out to […]
Sailing All Over America

People ask, “Where do your clients come from?” All over the East Coast and occasionally out West. A family from Sacramento CA went sailing on the York River while touring Williamsburg. “We’ve never been on the East Coast,” said Kristin Marco, “and tomorrow we’re seeing Washington.” They became the first of multiple families this week […]
Return to Williamsburg

People often ask, “Why is Williamsburg so popular?” I like to say that so many people have moved or retired to Williamsburg from up North that it has eviscerated the southern accent. In a new twist, Claudia and Scott McDougal returned here. “We left 40 years ago,” Scott said. “We’ve been living in Denver,” Claudia […]
Ice Sailing Has Storied Past

People sometimes ask, “Is there a faster way to sail?” Oh yes, on ice! Before global warming, people used to sail on ice. It’s long forgotten, but our kin from the 1800s convey that ice sailing has a storied past. Americans live for speed and always have. Beginning with horse racing in 17th century New […]
20 Best Sailing Jokes

Everyone wants to know, “What are the best sailing jokes?” Alternatively, “What are the best boating jokes?” What’s a boat party without nautical jokes? These are gleaned from Yachting & Boating World’s ybw.com. Barcode Navy Why does the Norwegian navy have bar codes on the side of their ships? So that when the ships […]
Turncoat

Benedict Arnold has fascinated Americans for two centuries. One of the Continental Army’s most accomplished generals defected to the British Army for money and revenge. He oversaw military operations in Virginia during 1781 and turned over command to Lord Cornwallis when Cornwallis reached Yorktown. Arnold departed the scene to avoid any proximity to Gen. George […]