Discover Delmarva: Sail Alyosha
OCEAN CITY, Md- Grab the sunscreen, shades, and your favorite boating attire. We’re setting sail this week on the Alyosha out of Ocean City, Maryland. Owner & Operator of the vessel, Steve Butz, says sailing on a catamaran offers a vastly different experience for riders “Especially people who are used to power boats and things like that. It’s a very different experience, it’s much more chill.”
You’ll quickly notice how much goes into just getting the boat ready to head out onto the open waters. Butz got us onto the Bay, and we slowly made our way to the Ocean. Quickly approaching the Ocean, the vessel was traveling at a decent speed. Butz says that as people begin to explore Alyosha, they’re often shocked at the size of the catamaran. “I can tell you that many people get on the boat and they think it is much bigger than they had thought. There’s not a chance of getting wet out here necessarily unless you want to set up on the trampoline on a rough day.”
Luckily for us, it was not a rough day, so we stayed dry. The wind hitting your face and the white noise of the ocean below on the trampoline is soothing enough to put anyone to sleep. Now, the experience while sailing can be greatly affected by the time of day. “If you’re interested in sailing, something in the late afternoon as the sea breeze builds up, that’s probably their best bet. And if they want more of a chill ride, I would do it earlier in the day.”
We got a taste of both during our trip, as the speed started to pick up quickly as the sails were raised! You notice the speed difference immediately, and the sails, they’re hard to miss from land. Nap time was over, and now it was time for a taste of adrenaline! The views cruising along the coast are hard to beat. We had pristine conditions, clear skies, great wind, and most importantly, a great time. Butz did recommend staying vigilant for the vast marine life in the waters below. “In terms of things I’ve seen. I’ve seen a couple of hammerhead sharks out here, people probably don’t want to hear that in the ocean. Twice I’ve seen whales, and a giant sea turtle as well.”
Unfortunately or fortunately? We didn’t see any sharks, just a few seagulls and some humans on land. But you can’t beat a day out on the water forgetting about all your responsibilities- (just for a little bit)
Butz says he’s had thirty different weddings on board and eight different proposals. He says it’s a great way to celebrate a special occasion or to just spend a day relaxing on the ocean. They also offer wine tours right at sunset and even moonlight cruises when the conditions are just right. For more information on their sailing experiences or to book a charter, check out their website.
