Acadia

History

After a couple of adventures on rented boats in Bermuda and the Poconos, we began sailing the Chesapeake in the 1980s on our first boat, Edna, a beloved 19-foot O'Day Mariner. We found Edna in a slip in Taylor's Marina on the Elk RIver. We sailed without fail –rain or shine–every weekend. There we befriended our sailing gurus, Bruce and Jennifer Ross from South Africa. We explored the Bay on annual cruises to Saint Michaels, Annapolis and Oxford with only a canvas curtain to protect us from the elements and a porta-potty. After our first child Spencer was born in 1986 we moved to Bohemia Bay Yacht Harbor in the Bohemia River. We bundled Spencer up in baby PFDs and took him on cruises with us.

In 1988 we moved up to Osprey, a classic 22-foot Catalina which accommodated our growing family and second child, Emily. After a season in Charlestown at the private launch of Bruce and Jennifer, we moved to our present marina, Long Point in the Bohemia River. We sailed for 14 more years in Osprey with our kids, continuing our annual cruise to Saint Michaels, Annapolis and back. Still rustic without plumbing, but a little more space inside -- head room was achievable with a pop-top cabin top.

In 2002, we acquired our current boat, Acadia, a popular 27-foot Hunter. She has a handsome wooden interior with running water, flush toilet and sleeping accommodations for 5 with an extra five feet of cabin space. Acadia also has a modern sound system, a generous gift from Eric's childhood friend Ross, to go with the honorable captain's table to plot our courses. Acadia is a finely appointed vessel -- galley, head, v-berth, quarter berth, dinette -- and music at your fingertips. New this year is the GPS.