Sailing before Deployment
Three couples from nearby Langley Air Force Base took their last sail together near Williamsburg before they start deploying overseas as physicians. Two are dermatologists and three are anesthesiologists. They had a fun time sailing in gradually rising winds. When the winds subsided we sailed over to the north shore for swimming. Near the channel […]
Sailing to Raleigh
What are the odds of three unrelated couples from Raleigh who’ve never met winding up on a sailboat charter near Williamsburg? “That’s not all,” said Larry Maccherone. “We live in Cary in the same neighborhood as Katie, a quarter of a mile away.” Larry and his wife Jennifer ere celebrating their 17th anniversary. As we […]
Sail on the Bow
There is perhaps no better place than to sail on the bow of a boat along the York River. It’s a great place to contemplate life in the great outdoors as you glide smoothly through the water. You become oblivious to distracting surroundings. People often comment how serene it is to sail. Nowhere is that […]
Naval Observatory
Every ten days or so a Navy ship cruises up the York River. It’s usually headed to the Naval Weapons Station at Yorktown. At least once a month I wind up taking a Navy service member or retiree sailing. This was a twofer, with the SS Cornhusker passing by while a seven-year Navy electrician was […]
Sailing Fourth
The Fourth of July fizzled in the morning with a steady rain that eventually canceled the evening fireworks. But the Hoolahans of Randolph, New Jersey, braved the weather and headed for a quiet sail on the York River during their vacation in Williamsburg. Sure enough, the rain tapered to a drizzle and then stopped altogether […]
Community Sailing
Question: Why are some people more compassionate than others? Answer: They serve their community nobly. Every now and then you run into someone whose job is a stunning reflection of community service. Sometimes they’re a couple. Brooke and Jamie Bugg came from Monroe, Georgia to Williamsburg for their wedding anniversary. She said, “We work different […]
Family Sailing
Question: What’s the best sailing? Answer: With family. Family sailing is the best because it brings out fond memories and not-so-fond. Sara Beauchamp took her beau and her parents sailing near Williamsburg on bright, beautiful day with brisk winds. Her dad recalled their family cottage on Lake Erie, where they traveled during the summer from Buffalo. […]
Navy Captain Sailing
Question: What’s it like with a Navy captain sailing? Answer: It shows the river from a different perspective. Retired Capt. Terry Culton took his wife Helen and their son and his wife sailing on the York River on a quiet morning with almost no breeze. He’s familiar with these waters, having commanded many a Navy […]
Birds of Virginia
Question: What is it with the birds of Virginia? Answer: They sometimes fly right at you. Birds are fascinating to watch on the water. Rob and Share Breitenstein of Pensacola, Florida, took their three beautiful children sailing on breezy York River, where we saw dolphins hunt for schools of fish. Either that or they were […]
Sailing Downwind
Question: How do you go sailing downwind? Answer: Raise the spinnaker. Sometimes you need a break from the grandchildren. Jennie and Jeff Seiler care permanently for their three grandsons, who were off visiting their mother for the summer. The Seilers took a leisurely cruise on the York River as light winds prevailed in the morning. […]
Sailing with Dolphins
Question: What’s the best thing to see on the water? Answer: Dolphins! Nick Haller brought his family to Williamsburg from Frederick, Maryland, where he is the chef of the community hospital. While sailing in light breezes on a sunny morning, the first of 20 or dolphin started frolicking with the boat. They swam near […]
Sailing on Rising Winds
Question: How do you sail on rising winds? Answer: Keep spilling wind from the sails. Wanda and Bryant Brumfield live in rural Clinton, Louisiana, north of New Orleans. “He’s been boating all his life, but he has always wanted to try sailing,” she explained on the dock. He succeeded quite well. As winds on the York […]
Sailing Under Spinnaker
People ask, “What do you do in light breezes?” Answer: We run the spinnaker sail downwind. The Orr family of Richmond thought they might need oars on a quiet Sunday morning when they went sailing near Williamsburg. We sailed gently across the York River near the Coleman Bridge to see a superyacht named Hampshire that […]
Sailing Good Winds
Question: Who should run the boat in brisk winds? Answer: A former Navy jet pilot. Moderate winds of 12 mph turned to a brisk 18-20 mph on a bright sunny day, leading to one reef in the genoa to make it more like a jib. The mainsail was full. Kathy Fanney brought her family […]
Sailing with Cars
Question: Can a man have too many cars and boats? Answer: Not if he can identify them all off the top of his head. Stephen Coe and his wife Frankie came back for their second annual sail on the York River. They live on several acres in Trinity, North Carolina. He used to work for […]
Navy Sails Past
The Ryan family of the Pittsburgh area got to see something you don’t find on the Monongahela River. With Kelly Ryan behind the wheel of our sailboat while drifting off Yorktown, a US Navy destroyer came up the river from Norfolk, en route to the Yorktown Naval Weapons Station. The family found it equally intriguing […]
Sailing to the Future
It’s an enduring cliché that young people have it tough coming out of school and finding a job. So it was a pleasant surprise to meet Paige Neidig, whom her parents Connie and Mark Neidig took sailing near Williamsburg along with her sister Samantha and fiancé Seth Weaver. They were on vacation from Wellsville, Pennsylvania. […]
Sailing with Kiwanis
We went sailing with Kiwanis as members and spouses of the Williamsburg Kiwanis Club set sail on the York River on a trip donated by Williamsburg Charter Sails to the Kiwanis Foundation. Its president, Gary Ripple, reported that the fund has grown to $405,000 and yields $20,000 annually for key club projects. Gary is a big […]
Sailing to a Reunion
Members of the Class of 1965 at a public high school in Hershey, Pennsylvania had such a good time at their 50th reunion that they extended it to Williamsburg the following year. Among them was my former colleague Ed Offley. We started out together at The Virginia Gazette, and he went on to a distinguished […]
Learning to Sail
The Monroe family from LaSalle, Illinois, took the afternoon off from touring historical sights to go sailing near Williamsburg. Ed is a dentist and Nanci is his office manager. “We were looking for something fun and different to do,” Nanci said. “This was a surprise to us.” Ed wanted to learn how to sail and […]