Schooners Alliance & Serenity

We sailed on a blustery, cool day. The sails were full and the ship was rocking. The trip was wonderful, but alas too short. I would like to see what it would be like some day on the open seas.

Three of us went on the Schooner Alliance. Crew was welcoming. Setting was clean and free of debris. Crew talked with us and explained the riggings and sailing tactics. They were friendly and informative. It was the correct length of time.

We really enjoyed our sail, well actually due to lack of wind we had to motor most of the way. The crew was very friendly and extremely knowledgeable about the history of the area. It was also fun helping to handle the lines. We had a great time and will probably try it again.

Excellent evening for sailing. Crew was very knowledgeable and friendly. Recommend you bring a cushion to sit on as the seating consists of wooden boxes, etc. Nothing negative to say about this trip.

The boat is so pretty and the sunset was breathtaking. Could not use the sails because there was no wind, but I bet that would have been nice. The captian was so nice and so informative. We loved listening to all the history. The 1st mate was not very friendly and he was rude to me upon boarding. Set a hurt tone for the evening. He really needs to bone up on being friendly. The timing of taking us under the bridge to watch the sunset could not have been any more perfect.

After seeing this schooner sailing around the York River, I decided one Sunday afternoon to take the cruise. I went alone but felt totally comfortable with the down to earth, friendly crew. It was a great opportunity to not only enjoy a beautiful day on the water but to meet lots of folks who were visiting from out of town.

I realize that the conditions can have a lot to do with how much one enjoys this activity. We had a beautiful day for sailing - not too hot and not too cold; overcast yet with delightful breezes so that the Alliance cut a fast pace through the water. The crew was friendly and helpful. I was interested in helping with the sails and learning more about the boat, and they were quite accommodating. Others wanted to hear more about the locale and congregated in a different group. Overall my wife and I had a delightful time and were glad we did this. My only complaint was that they held up the departure of the boat for about 20 minutes to wait for a late-coming party. Now that's not a bad thing, but the captain ended the cruise on time so essentially our cruise was cut short by 20 minutes or so (out of 2 hours). We were sternly warned when we got the tickets that the ship would take off on time - so be there or miss the boat. So all but one party was there on time, and we all got a shortened sail because one party was late. The owners need to have a firm policy - either take off on time, or if there is a wait, then make the cruise the proper length so that all get the full cruise they paid for.

This was a very pleasant sail on a tall ship. Crew members were personable and knowledgeable and we were encouraged to ask them questions. We also were able to help hoist the sails.

Captain was very freindly and details thoughout the trip. Ride was great and the scency was worthwhile. I had a very relaxing day.

It was a very nice experience. The only trouble was that it rained for part of the ride so we had to be in the back of the boat under a cover. It was a little hard to see what was ahead of you,but it was still fun. The captain and crew were very informative about the ship,history of Yorktown and all their travels.

Our sail on the Alliance was relaxing, beautiful & informative. The crew was knowledgeable of the area (shared some history). They were friendly and gave everyone a chance to take part in the raising of the sails. We enjoyed the trip and would do it again.

AFTER PARKING AND WALKING DOWN THE HILL TOWARDS THE RIVER WE NOTICED THE TALL MASTS OF THE SCHOONER ALLIANCE AT THE RIVERS EDGE. WE DECIDED ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT TO GET TICKETS AND GO FOR THE FIRST SAIL OF THE DAY. THE SUN WAS OUT BUT THE WINDS WERE LIGHT, THE CREW WAS WILLING AND THE OTHER GUESTS WERE AMMICABLE. WE ALL HAD A GREAT ITIME IN THE SHORT TIME WE SPENT TOGETHER. WOULD RECOMEND THIS SAIL TO ANYONE. JOHN N LOU

The trip was really nice. The captain was very knowledgable of the history of Yorktown and points of interest along the York River. We set near the captain to hear the history and didn't see much of the crew, but the crew were nice also. The ship was comfortable and a lot of fun. I would recommend it to everyone.

We've TWICE been on the Schooner Alliance out of Yorktown, VA - both trips within a week of each other! On each occasion we found the captain(s) and crew to be charming and engaging. Those of us who are familiar with sailing understand that generally the wind goes down along with the sun (except in the case of inclement or impending inclement weather!), so, whereas the crew seemed a bit apologetic about the lack of wind, the sunset on the first sail was beautiful and well worth the experience (we missed the sunset on the second sail, due to cloud cover), and BOTH cruises were delightfully relaxing and beautiful in their own right. We're "locals" and won't hesitate to recommend this experience to other locals as well as visitors to the area. We're also looking forward to sailing on the Rappahannock aboard Serenity this fall (maybe the weekend of the Oyster Festival). (We don't have much money but can appreciate a QUALITY experience for our dollar!!) Greg and Laura - you're the best! 'Hope to one day join you in the San Blas islands!

It was a very enjoyable sail. The captain and crew were very knowledgeable and took the time to answer our questions and to point out historic sites along the river.