Boating THE ISSUE

sea Tow—smith mountain lake and by navigating a 45-foot catamaran in the Virgin islands.

Bridges said he most enjoys interacting with the Virginia Dare passengers: “you have to be a people person if you’re a captain.” oftentimes, Bridges said, passengers will come to the wheelhouse and ask questions about the lake, such as how long it is, how deep it is and what celebrities live on the lake. like clarke and Bridges, Fisher loves being on the water, boating and meeting the Dare’s passengers.

With more than 14 years at the helm, Fisher has the most seniority of the Virginia Dare captains.

“i just love the people,” Fisher said. “ you get to meet people from all over and from all walks of life. i just love hearing their stories.” he recalled one recent hourlong special charter that served as a funeral service. he took the Dare to special places around the lake to memorialize the deceased, who was an avid lake lover.

While the majority of the Dare’s cruises go off without a hitch, there has been the occasional mishap, including a few medical emergencies and, on one occasion, an unruly guest who became a conservation police issue.

“i love the weddings,” Fisher added, recalling one particular ceremony in which the Dare ferried guests from nearby Bernard’s landing to a lakefront home

Cruising s mith Mountain Lake on the virginia Dare

 Regular, in-season sightseeing cruises last about two hours, during which Virginia Dare captains will point out local landmarks and explain the lake’s history and how it was formed.

The Dare also offers themed cruises with a twist, such as Taco Tuesdays and Wildlife Wednesdays. Other speciality cruises include casino nights, live music and the ever-popular (and usually sold out) annual July 4th fireworks cruise.

Cruises start at $30 per person. Learn more at vadaresml.com/virginia-dare where a couple tied the knot. and while docking the Dare at a non-commercial sized dock was challenging, Fisher said it was a lot of fun.

“everyone had a good time, we were happy to do it and kept people safe so they would not have to drive,” he said. “The bride especially enjoyed her wedding, so much that she had to be carried onto the boat.”