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 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 […]
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 […]
Yorktown Museum Progressing
Exactly a year ago I wrote about the confusion between the new Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia (right) and the new American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. The latter is likely to scoop the former by opening this year instead of next. This is from a news release May 31: The Yorktown Victory Center is open […]
Sailing with Zeus
On an otherwise calm day with fluctuating winds, two couples from the Midwest got to watch as the USNS Zeus came into the York River on the way to its home port at Cheatham Annex. They saw the Coleman Bridge swing both spans open to let the big ship transit. The Zeus looked beaten up […]
Sailing Past C-Span
When people go sailing on the York River, they seek a unique and fun adventure that’s also educational. Sometimes they’re surprised to see “C-Span” in the form of the Coleman Bridge swinging open to let US Navy ships pass. Every ten days or so, and sometimes as frequently as twice a day, cruisers and […]
Sailing into Yorktown History
The Museum of the American Revolution, opening in Philadelphia next year, has partnered with the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution on an ambitious artistic endeavor. The DAR will underwrite the framing and installation of a hand-painted copy of the Siege of Yorktown (1781), the subject of an optional 20-minute talk for guests on board Williamsburg Charter Sails. […]
Sail to Weather
We found out what it’s like to sail to weather. For the 16th year, the fall class of the Williamsburg Area Learning Tree assembled for the three-day “Adventures in Sailing” class. Among the returning alumni is David “Ned” Neidlinger whose career in the Air Force included intensive weather work and data collection. High up in the […]
Runaway Slaves
Runaway slaves found themselves in an unusual situation during the American Revolution. The new republic touted liberty and freedom, but this did not extend to all members of society. If they escaped the plantation they could gain their freedom from the British, and that factored into Williamsburg and Yorktown. In her new book, “Epic Journeys to […]
Sailing Trifecta of Cool Sights
Three couples from West Virginia, Illinois and Texas nearly hit the Sailing Trifecta of Cool Sights on the York River. They had never met before and had a fun time on a beautiful fall afternoon. First, they got to see a small pod of dolphins frolicking in front of Sara Creek. Two and then three dolphins romped […]
