All the Ships at Sail
People ask, “What’s it like to see a Navy ship come close?” With a retired US Coast Guard admiral on board, we encountered all the ships at sea beginning with the big one. The USS Mesa Verde rolled past us as we exited Sarah Creek into the York River. The Mesa Verde is an amphibious […]
Unexpected sailing lesson
What started out as one couple going out for a cruise on the York River turned into an unexpected sailing lesson. Chris Loving and his girlfriend Krysten Scafe drove in from Richmond for a quite sail. While waiting for them in the ships store, a couple approached who were looking to rent a boat. Carlos […]
Sailing with the authorities
What could be more fun than sailing with the authorities, namely police and prosecutors? Trish and Joe Froelich joined Jean and Art Hall for an afternoon of smooth sailing on the York River in rising breezes. Once out of the channel and on the water, Trish was confronted by her childhood. “When I was a […]
Sailing to Maine
Two couples who’ve known each other since the 1970s went sailing along the York River and wound up sailing to Maine. Jim and JoAnn Giesen of Williamsburg hosted Jan and Pers Jonas, who coincidentally live in York, Maine. I was explaining how the current of our York can run to 4 knots, which led Pers […]
The Internal Enemy
Alan Taylor’s “The Internal Enemy: Slavery and War in Virginia, 1772-1832” addresses the complex subject of slavery in a state dedicated to liberty while still enslaving two-fifths of the population. In 1775 the last royal governor, Lord Earl Dunmore, freed the slaves provided they would fight for the British. While the majority of the Taylor book looks […]
She said yes on the bow of the boat
Reggie Holmes took his girlfriend Lea Diggs sailing on the York River to propose marriage, and she said yes on the bow of the boat. The plan was to bring two couples along to witness the occasion. We sailed for an hour, exchanging stories and moving about the boat. The other couples liked the idea […]
Sailing with Sturgeon
The Hasz family was fully aware of the need for lifejackets because the waters of the York River are still cold. Tamara and Eric Hasz were in Williamsburg from Northern Wisconsin, where they live near Lake Winnebago. “It’s 30 miles long and 10 miles wide, but only 15 feet deep,” Eric said. They took their […]
Sailing with homeschoolers
Jamie and Brad Schmidt brought their twin girls and teenage son to Williamsburg on a learning vacation. They’re homeschooled by Mom in Westminster, Colorado. “We lucked out because this is Homeschool Week at Colonial Williamsburg,” Jamie said, “and they offered a good discount that we weren’t aware of when we planned this trip. We want […]
Sailing with warships
Three couples went sailing near Williamsburg on the York River and wound up sailing with warships, metaphorically and literally. Steady winds on a bright sunny day rocked the boat from side to side, which formed a context to show how the man-of-war battleships coped in the Battle of the Capes. You can’t shoot your cannons […]
Sailing, boating and shipbuilding news
Nine people from all over America cruised along the York River near Williamsburg with various sailing, boating and shipbuilding news. Tom Jackson of West Valley, Utah, brought his wife and her sister along. “Our biggest body of water is of course the Great Salt Lake. It’s been dry, so the lake is way down. There’s […]
Sailing with Racing Dogs
On a day of coincidental birthdays, we went sailing with racing dogs. Beverly Jackson of Baltimore took her husband Thomas out on an afternoon cruise along the York River. Michel Gauthier did likewise for his wife Valerie. The couple lives in the small village of Casselman in eastern Ontario. Valerie said, “We live on 47 […]
The Joy of Sailing
Wayne Frith brought his wife Jo and grown son Ian from Hopewell to Williamsburg to go sailing on the York River for his 20th birthday. Where they live, the James River is pretty tame for sailing. The idea was to show Ian the joy of sailing, but that proved difficult because the winds were so […]
Got to Be On the Water
Every day we see three or four Coast Guard boats buzzing around the York River, but that’s only the tip of the fleet. Meet the captain. “We have 25 boats of various sizes and rates training all over Hampton Roads,” said Patrick Hogan, Boatswain 2nd Class from the Yorktown Coast Guard Training Center. He was […]
Memories of Far Away
Sailing brings out childhood memories of far away. Steve and Colleen Hamlin of nearby Suffolk took their children on a local vacation to see the Williamsburg sights. They went sailing along the York River the day after Tropical Storm Hermine blew through, so the winds were brisk and steady. Their son Tyler had experience […]
Sailing in a Brisk Wind
Sailing a skippered sailboat in Williamsburg is often the most fun that people have on vacation. Just ask Hersh Patel of Newport News, who took his wife Yera out on the York River on a windy day before Tropical Storm Hermine blew in. As the boat headed into the wind, Hersh rolled out the mainsail […]
Bridge Locked Again
Once again, the George P. Coleman Bridge got stuck, as it has on several occasions in recent weeks. If this keeps up, the bridge opening will become a Thing To Do on Trip Advisor for those on vacation in Williamsburg. This time it was after the USNS Zeus transited from an Atlantic Ocean tour. […]
Sailing with a Sub Rescuer
Of all the military veterans I’ve taken sailing, none had a more peculiar stint than Robert Durrant. He’s a machinist in upstate New York who took his wife Marianne out on the York. That brought back memories on the water. “I was in the Navy serving on the catamaran ship that rescued downed submarines.” What! […]
The Future of Sailing
The future of the world and the future of sailing are in good hands with young people, judging by back-to-back experiences with two families. Lauren Edwards took her family out from Williamsburg, where they were holding a small family reunion on vacation. Members came from three corners of Virginia: Blacksburg, Virginia Beach and Alexandria. Even […]
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 […]
Serenity Sail for Three Couples
Sometimes the sea speaks louder than words, and that was the case with a serenity sail for three couples. Four people were visitors on vacation and two were locals. We saw the last of the osprey as they have taught their fledglings to fly. Next stop is South America. Soon the Coast Guard will come […]