Virginia not only has a rich history of yachting and sailing but a vibrant contemporary boating scene focused around the state’s 3,315 miles of stunning shoreline. Old Dominion can boast a boat ownership rate of 26.6 vessels per 1,000 inhabitants, for a total of over 250,000 boats in all, with some of the main destinations here including Chesapeake Bay, widely considered to be America’s sailing capital, boating up the Potomac River, hundreds of scenic lakes and backwater exploration up the James River or Hog Island Bay. Blessed with a cooling Atlantic breeze, Virginia is perhaps best visited in late spring or early fall to avoid the excess humidity of the summer months.
For sailing on Chesapeake Bay check out the York River Yacht Haven, a 280-slip harbor at Gloucester Point, the 352-slip Old Point Comfort Marina in Hampton or the Cape Charles Yacht Center on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. From these facilities you can explore the very best of Chesapeake Bay’s 4,479 square miles of pristine and placid waters, fishing for striped bass, cobia and flounder, or rev up your speedboat for adrenalin-pumping cruising. Also available near the Bay is the Hampton Yacht Club, one of the most storied institutions in the state and organizer of the annual Hampton One sailing race, a venerable event that has been running since 1934.
There’s plenty more opportunities to boat in Virginia’s southern reaches, in particular the beach-lined resort-area between Norfolk and Virginia Beach. This area is home to the state’s biggest and best marinas that are perfect for casual day-boating in the backwaters and more ambitious trips onto the Atlantic Ocean itself, where you can fish for the feistiest salt-water game-fish. Check out Willoughby Marina, a 271-slip destination in Willoughby Spit, the five large marinas in East Beach that together offer hundreds of slips and a full-service appeal, the 215-slip Long Bay Pointe Boating Resort and the traditional Fisherman’s Wharf Marina in Virginia Beach, which combines slips with family-friendly restaurants.
There’s also an exciting yachting scene further inland. The Potomac River, for instance, isn’t just a showstopping natural attraction that carves its way through verdant hills, but a historic destination in its own right. Sail past Mount Vernon, George Washington’s iconic Neoclassical home, motor your way by the Lincoln Memorial, or fish for bass and catfish on this languid and evocative watercourse. Popular marinas on the Virginia side of the river include Dangerfield Island Sailing Club, located just south of Washington D.C., Monroe Bay Marina, a 110-slip facility that operates as the perfect gateway to Chesapeake Bay, and Alexandria City Marina, positioned mere steps away from the city’s charming Old Town district. Also located in Alexandria is the Old Dominion Boat Club, Virginia’s oldest yachting institution dating from 1880.
Virginia’s most popular lake destination is Lake Anna, a 13,000-acre reservoir between Richmond and Fredericksburg that attracts around 3 million tourists each year. Perfect for fishers, watersports enthusiasts and swimmers, this Lake is positioned right in the heart of its own state park. For a quieter experience head to Smith Mountain Lake. With 500 miles of stunning shoreline and an enviable location amidst the rolling Blue Ridge Mountains, this man-made reservoir receives more than half a million visitors per year.
Though Virginia may be more known for its robust shipbuilding, naval and port facilities, it also has a recreational boating industry worth in excess of $4.4 billion dollars per year, supporting at least 16,800 jobs.
Since 1964, SI Yachts has been helping our clients through the processes of buying and selling boats, many times it's their 10th or more boat sale with us. We take service very seriously and we are able to retain some of the best service talent in the industry giving us an incredible advantage when it comes making sure our customers enjoy their boating lifestyle. When you buy a yacht from us, our industry-leading mobile service team is just a phone call away. With a service facility located in Staten Island and mobile service throughout the Northeast and South Florida, SI Yachts has a true north-to-south connection for our seasonal cruising clients.
