Sailing with Families
As the summer winds down and thoughts return to school, the number of families who go sailing dwindles. I’ve had all variety of families on board this season, everything from toddlers to grown adults. Parents like to take individual children up to the bow to enjoy some private time. Sailing is quite the bonding experience […]
Submarine Update
My journalist colleague and author Ed Offley responded to a shorter version of “All the Ships at Sea” that I posted on Facebook. He said the sub is likely attached to COMSUBLANT, which stands for Commander, Submarine Force Atlantic. That is, the Atlantic Fleet. In this case, it’s part of an aircraft carrier task force based […]
All the Ships at Sea
Two young couples went sailing for a little adventure on their respective wedding anniversaries. They wound up encountering a lot of adventure, as they saw all the ships at sea. Craig Pancake of New Creek, West Virginia, took his wife Elissa out. Jean-Louis Lombos of Richmond took his wife Jennifer out as well, with a […]
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
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 out of the Desert
The Collins family left Palm Springs for an East Coast vacation that included sailing on the York River. “We did New York at the beginning of the summer and are now ending the summer by doing Washington and Williamsburg,” said Leif. “We have to get back next week because school starts for the boys in […]
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 […]
Sailing with Shoeless Wonders
You meet some fascinating people sailing. Rob Spain took Sara Elizabeth Timmins out on the York River in exchange for her hiking the back country of Yellowstone with him. Sara is no stranger to adventure, for she’s a Hollywood film producer who’s currently working on “Shoeless Wonders” in Lynchburg. “It’s about orphans who went undefeated […]
Sailing Back to the 1600s
My typical history cruise covers the battles of the Capes and Yorktown, but this one had us sailing back to the 1600s. Kate and John Jesberg drove up from Virginia Beach to take their friend Gayle Smith sailing on the York River. But instead of heading east, we motored northwest. Here’s why. “I’m descended from […]
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
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 with Dad
Two families enjoyed steady winds on the York River in situations that recalled sailing with Dad. Mark and Barbara Adam brought their twin teenage girls on vacation from Bridgewater, NJ. Mark was itching to take the helm but very adroitly deferred to Megan and later Sarah. Each was reluctant but quickly grasped the concept. “Here […]
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 […]
Sailing the Gamut
You could say we went Sailing the Gamut, with every conceivable experience on the York River except one. In light but steady winds, the entire Shields family of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, chipped in to help fly the spinnaker. I don’t normally do that on a hot day because the going downwind on the spin […]
Sailing with Dolphins
The Couvion family of suburban St. Louis crossed at least two rivers to go sailing on the York. First the Mississippi and second the James, where they’re staying in a VRBO house near the water while vacationing at Williamsburg. Mike the dad said, “We’re close enough to swim in the river, and you can walk […]
Sailing Peacefully
Sometimes it’s good to get away and go sailing peacefully. Danielle and Patrick Arens look like newlyweds but in fact have three small boys back in Fredericksburg. They took the weekend off to go to Virginia Beach and go sailing on the York River. They enjoy history and have taken the boys to Colonial Williamsburg […]
Sailing to Experiment and to Celebrate
Nine eager visitors converged from all over America to experiment and to celebrate with a sailing adventure on the historic York River. Ann and Mark Swindell drove over from Virginia to celebrate their 27th anniversary. “We take a boat trip every year on our anniversary,” Ann said. “Last year we went out on the water to […]
Sailing Past Vegas
On a beautiful, breezy afternoon we took two couples sailing on the York River. Bethany and Daniel Prazuch of Wisconsin were on their honeymoon, while Eric and Trina Smith of Oklahoma were on their second marriage. Eric and Trina have done a lot of domestic traveling. On this trip they went to Nashville and Washington […]
Sailing Aircraft Carriers
Sailing the York River inspires old memories for Navy personnel. Mike Brennan served aboard not one but three aircraft carriers, so his recollections were mighty big. He described the experience while taking his wife Sharon and two daughters sailing on a quiet afternoon. Just briefly we saw a few dolphins in Sara Creek before the […]
Sailing from Texas
On the very first day of their vacation in Williamsburg, Sherri and Mike Hanley went sailing from Texas. They took their son and Mike’s mother out on the first breezy day in the previous four. The winds built from the east from zero to 10 mph as the crew learned to heel the boat and tack down the […]