Sailing Back to the 1600s

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 […]