Tangier, Naturally  Writer Bill Mitman and his wife Cathy frequently sail to Tangier Island from their dock on the Little Wicomico River. Now with the obligatory tourist stuff behind them, they can focus on the island’s natural charms.

Downhill Sailing  Contributing writer Mike Brown decided to sail down wind as much as possible on his summer cruise around the Bay. That meant no itinerary, but he still got to go pretty much everywhere he wanted, without beating up on himself or his boat.

Good Dog  Chesapeake Bay retrievers are as
natural to the Bay as the otters that some say
are their closest kin. Writer John F. Ross tells us
the story behind this native breed and introduces
us to a few of his favorite Chessie friends.

From the Editor 
The Incidental Tourist—We’re all tourists at some level or another, like it or not, but boaters somehow manage to see things from a different angle.

Off the Charts 
Swan Ache—A pair of mute swans have come to Wendy Mitman Clarke’s creek, and it looks like they’ve come to stay.

Nautical Know-How 
Paging Superman—Contributing writer Frank Lanier tells us what we need onboard (and why) in the way of distress signals.

Time Tested 
Singin’ in the Rain—The Luhrs 360 Convertible is built for fishing and family fun, but according to writer David G. Brown, it can also withstand a major downpour—not a bad thing when a Chesapeake squall rolls through.

Tech Support 
Picture This—TV afloat? Frank Lanier tunes into the new wave of satellite TVs now available to boaters.

Marina Hopping 
A Cut Above— Writer Katherine Brown found plenty to do at Knapps Narrows Marina—from fine dining to great birdwatching over the Knapps Narrows flats.

Cruise of the Month 
Go Ahead, Make Her Day—Writer Gary A. Oster and his wife Sue take their mothers (and fathers) on a Mother’s Day cruise up the Chester River to Chestertown.

Reader Rendezvous 
That First Charter—When Norman R. Blinn and his family set off on their first sailing trip around the Bay, they had no idea the trip would be so challenging.

Trading Places 
Paddle On—Jan and Shawn Towne of Bay Trails Outfitters in Port Haywood, Va., combine their passions for kayaking and the Bay. By Wendy Mitman Clarke

Angler’s Almanac 
Puzzling it Out— Pay attention to certain clues, John Page Williams says, and you’ll be able to find fish, despite changing Bay conditions.

Stern Lines 
Haven as Heaven—
Nancy Allison “rows” her way through the occasional migraine and into her past.

On the cover: The Herreshoff cat Gull takes a boisterous breeze on her beam.
Photograph by John Bildahl