- Come aboard to our place, our time.

We're going sailing with the racing skipper who everyone agrees is the best in Hampton Roads.

We'll look ahead to some summertime adventures you may not have thought of but will want to consider, and we'll have music from Connie Parker.

Here's your host, Vianne Webb.

- Every sailboat ought to have a musical name.

This sleek beauty is called Prelude and it introduces us to the man everybody says is the champ.

His name is William Sled Shell Horse in cruising class sailboat racing Shell horse.

His 10 man crew and prelude are considered the very best in the lower Chesapeake Bay.

What's more, they're beginning to enjoy a national and international reputation for sailing excellence.

We're going to meet William Shell Horse and take a practice run with him on the prelude.

But first, Tim Morton, who's commanding our story today, talked with people who've raced against Shell Horse and Tim filed this background report.

- He was born with the name of sled and it's caught on, on the water.

Off the water.

It's just Bill grew up in Tappahannock, Virginia, sailing Sunfish and sailfish boats.

His crew chief and tactician is Norfolk native.

Ron McLain probably ought to, - We'll get on by the club before we do it because we say, yeah, let's get up and see what it's gonna do when we get right outside - The crew.

Usually numbers 10 today making way for us.

There are seven.

- Is that back?

Is that back?

Yes sir.

- Well, Dan Sled has a total package.

He, he has a total commitment and I think that's what every sale, every sail that races a boat looks for has a total commitment.

A commitment in good sails on a boat having a good boat, which Sled has sled being totally committed to excellence.

Everything he does, he strives for that.

And sleds a really a good sailor.

He is been doing it a long time.

And also he has one of the other major ingredients and that it's a total committed crew going - As far as day.

We're gonna off, well I was thinking is we're gonna, we're - This is our number two gentle, gotta go.

17 knots of true breeze.

Now we're gonna go up, wind up towards the bridge tunnel, reach down beside the tunnel, set the spinna and come back down.

Then we'll run back up wind again down the shoreline down here.

Ready Bounce Walter?

Yeah man.

- Everybody ready, ready, ready.

ELs down.

This line's gonna go flat.

- We need to put another turn on you.

He has got a really good management program and he is very well organized on his boat.

Managing a boat that size with the number of crew he's got is a very difficult job and travel down millions of details that have to be taken care of.

And you never have a problem on that boat with anything going wrong.

'cause it's always taken care of ahead of time.

- We're gonna set the spinnaker port pole starboard, set - The hanger, it's easy.

Alright, check the four guys.

Get the both.

Four guys in the other, the four guy in.

- Gonna do the guy.

I'll take a sheet pre trim the guy, the pre trim, the guy, I got it off the top.

Pull outta - The bag.

Back on the - Ready on the hazard.

I'm ready.

Go ahead.

- Take - I've seen with him and against him for both 14 years.

I get it.

And one thing, he keeps his cool, he doesn't do like the rest of us and jump up and down and scream and he thinks things out and, and usually he doesn't always win, but usually he, he has a real good average.

- Let's get blade on Dick.

Set it up a storm attack.

We'll jab at the red on Let's go, let's go Three minutes, let's go boys.

Let it go whenever you're ready.

- Keep can drive, keep can drive Pole.

Boys pole boys, - You made some sales for him.

What kind of sales were they and what, why?

And did he come to you?

What did he say?

What did he want?

- Okay.

We have made for him so far a stale a so and two genoa.

It's, it's, it's a constant thing to keep your boat up to the highest speed you can.

The last sail we did for him, he said we, he got three tenths more boat speed out of his boat than he ever had before.

- We need power, Rob.

We need power buddy.

We got it.

Yeah.

Hey, I need to go back one knot over there.

Small boys.

We can't let him get us.

Concentrate.

Concentration.

- Concentration.

I get the impression that sailboat captains when they lose a race will bust up.

They'll get mad, get angry sulk.

Is that what Sled Shell Horse does?

- Well Tim, I think every sailboat race Skipper has an ego.

We wouldn't do this the sport without that.

However, sled is not Sled has ego just like the rest of us.

However, sled does not go high when he, when he loses a race more so than that.

I think what he, what he and his crew do is they sit back and learn from why learn from that loss and why didn't they win?

- He is first class gentleman and he, if he's as nice a guy to work for in his business as he is to sail for then I think he, he, he ought to have a pretty good crew at his job also.

- True.

Win 18 Knot.

See this thing, everybody look at - Shell Horse's job is commercial site development.

His company Chesapeake Bay contractors.

Today's sale was merely a practice four days after we went out with him, shell Horse and the Prelude won the Cape Henry Cup race to come in.

June is the International Newport, Rhode Island to Bermuda race.

The prelude finished second last year.

- Sled Shell Horse is the skipper of this beautiful boat, the prelude that we are sitting on.

It's our pleasure too to introduce you to Ron McLean who's the navigator.

I think the first thing gentlemen that you ought to do for us is to tell us about this beautiful boat and what's so fantastic about it.

Maybe I can help if I can ask you when it was built, how old it is and how I understand it's all wood.

That's, we covered it in five us What other sailors would like to know about it?

I think, - Well we bought the, Ron and I Ron's a yacht broker and we bought the boat in, in England in 1984.

It was built in 79 for the 1979 Admirals Cup and commissioned then, but Ron and I went over and looking for a racing boat back when the, the pound was so weak and the dollar was so strong.

And Ron and I went over there and, and looked at several boats and the last thing he said before he, he left England before I did, and the last thing he said was, don't buy that wooden boat.

But I really fell in love with this boat strictly because of its the way it looks and, and so I bought it after he left.

We made an offer on another boat, but we ended up buying this boat and, and I, I don't think Ron regrets it now.

I think he's pretty satisfied that we made the right decision.

- You do, of course.

You said you did about the two major races a year.

You're getting ready to go off and do the Newport, Rhode Island to Bermuda race, right?

Just a few - Weeks.

That's correct.

Before that Ron had done some Bermuda races.

I hadn't raced to Bermuda before.

I had cruised to Bermuda, but Ron had done I think two Bermuda races before we did the 1986 er race.

- Ron, how do you plan the strategy for such a race like that if you, it's not like other things that you can plan for because so much comes into it and it really is a, a strategy challenge, isn't it?

- It really is a, a strategy thing and and you can't plan but so much until right at the moment because you might know ahead of time what the Gulf stream's gonna do, but you don't really know what the weather's gonna do that leads you to the Gulf Stream.

So you've gotta have everything prepared, but be ready to change your game plan at the last minute depending on what the weather does.

- I'd like to know something about how you got started in racing.

You're both from around here originally.

- Well, I'm Ron is I think you a native from, from day one, three generations from right here.

- How do you move up into cruising class?

The challenge, - You start small boats usually, and then as you, as you get better and better it seems Ron has has, we've been sailing the goat since 1984.

Sailed against each other for several years before that.

And when I became interested in the larger boat, we teamed up and so that's how he and I got together.

- What's the size of a boat at which it's considered cruising class?

- Well, anything from in what we have here locally.

Gosh, from 20 feet to 45.

- Yeah, I think around around 25 feet is when they start thinking of the bigger, when people think about bigger boats, that's that's a cruising class somewhere around 24, 25 feet.

- Exactly.

- But I think a lot of the people start in the smaller boats in the sun fishing lasers, 14 foot boats, 11, 12 foot boats to really learn the basics so then they can start sailing the bigger boats once they learn those basics.

- If you're doing two of the major races, one, the one we've talked about from Newport to Bermuda, where's the other - That you?

Well, the other, we did the, the Newport to Bermuda race is every two years and then in between is the Annapolis to Newport race.

And so we do that.

So that, that, that's really the second big race we do.

- Is there anyone else from here that races against you Yeah.

- As well - That, that our audience might know?

- Conway Britton is going to, as a matter of fact, we have a three boat team doing the Bermuda race this year and it's, we are doing it Conway Bri with his boat named it's Aude and a boat from Fishing Bay, which is, is not far from here.

- We spent a wonderful day here with you and, and on your boat and I think this is the, the last show of this season that we're doing for this.

And I think sitting here on this beautiful boat in Hampton, which is such a racing community, this all is, is probably the best way we could have thought to do it.

And so I'd like to thank you for letting us oh, we appreciate - It.

Be here.

We hope this will help, help promote the whole sport to everybody.

We have your greatest area of anywhere on the East coast as far as we are concerned for sailing and we'd like to see more people out doing - It.

Really wish you luck in that race coming up very shortly and thank you so much.

Ron McLean and Sled Shuffles.

Thank you.

We are full of songs on this edition of our place, our time, and we have with us a great lady of song Connie Parker, - The very thought of you.

And I forget to do those little ordinary things.

Not everyone ought to do.

I am living in I am though it may see, to me that's everything the mere dear of you, the longing here for you.

You'll never know how slow the moments go.

When I'm new, I see your face in every, your and the belonging here for you.

You'll never know how slow the moments go.

When I'm new to you, I see your face and every flower.

Oh no.

- This gorgeous setting that I have the good fortune to be standing in shows you the Hampton River, the heart and highway of the Old settlement of Hampton.

And this is the last edition of our place, our time for this season.

So we thought we'd take a look ahead at summer.

Kim Simon's going to show you some one day adventures and weekend adventures that you might like to put on your summer calendar.

- Summertime is almost here.

And I was wondering, just wondering that maybe there was more to it than bathing, sunning and sightseeing.

Well, I didn't have to look far as this area has a lot more to offer than the tourist guides suggest gr clear take rock climbing for example, but not without a guide.

I found trained experts at Adventure Sport, a Virginia Beach outfit that offers a variety of outdoor courses and programs for all levels of thrill seekers.

They should, I dare say, showed me the ropes, the right ropes.

- Actually, first off, we only repel down on this rope.

We're gonna actually climb on this one.

- Okay.

Alright.

- Twin rope.

Real safe.

And that's the way to have fun.

So what - Do we do with this?

- Slide it up through here.

We gotta make a connection between the harness and the ropes.

- Okay.

- Good.

- Instructors, Glen Carlson and Linda Ellison gave me a short but thorough made for TV ground lesson on essential safety tips and techniques.

And before long I was all roped up with no place to go, but straight up construction - And handholds and footholds and what to do to get up the rock.

Got the rope on here.

And contrary to popular belief, you climb the rock, not the rope.

Rope's there to help you in case you slip, but you climb the rock hands.

You ready?

Hands off.

Hands on.

Hands on.

Hands on the rock.

Hands off the rope.

Okay.

All right, here we go.

Yep.

- Alright.

No hands on the rope.

We might go from here.

- Oh, very good.

Use your feet.

Use your feet.

Keep your feet on the wall.

Oh yes.

Very good.

Very good.

Very good.

Remember, climb with your legs, not your arms.

- Well, I don't really know what the difference here.

- Some hand holds to your right.

Right up, up.

Nice.

That'd be a nice push.

Good.

Kim, use your legs.

Step up on 'em.

Nice look for those footholds.

Nice.

- Good hand switch.

- Yeah.

Now step across with that right foot and double 'em up.

- Good.

- Nice.

Yeah.

Alright.

The top too.

Yeah.

Okay.

Swing out What?

Keep your feet on the wall.

You'll see Linda, you'll notice a very fluid motion.

Really saving energy when she gets a good move.

And you'll notice it's very dance like.

It's not, does not have to be a real strength or muscle oriented sport.

It's very much a, a balance sport.

And because it you have that perceived anxiety, it really heightens your awareness and your senses and your, you really feel alive at the end of the day.

You really feel like you've really accomplished something.

- I'll let you know.

No, but I did.

You can see the lake for avid climbers like Ellison and Carlson scrambling along Ridges in the Peruvian Andes is feeling alive.

For this first or however this Richmond rock quarry was just right looking for a little r and r. I inquired about a quiet ride down the nearby James River.

My adventure sport guides were eager to oblige, emulate.

- This is tv, this is for parade, this is river, this is for real.

- In addition to rock climbing, adventure sport offers, courses, clinics, and expeditions in whitewater, kayaking, canoeing and rafting.

As far west as California and as close to home as the other side of the Richmond Quarry.

There were of course the mandatory safety tips and skills to be learned.

A technique called the sea to sea roll, the basic boat rescue maneuver.

And finally, how to abandon ship.

Alright, soon our tiny regatta was ready for a joint downstream.

Nothing like the roar of a thundering current to make a girl.

Wish you were back on some precarious rocky perch, high and dry.

Grabbing a Leo post.

As my first kayak venture came to an end, I bid a fond farewell to the folks of adventure sport who in such short order had turned me into a crocodile Dundee.

They, however, continue to fro it in the froth of white water.

If rock climbing or rough river riding isn't your idea of fun, then perhaps my next experience will help your spirit for adventure, get off to a flying start with an introductory discovery flight.

The plane of Saysno 1 72.

The place, the Mercury Flight Center at the Hampton Roads Airport, where for $20 willing participants can pilot their first discovery flight under the professional supervision of highly trained instructors.

Of course, it isn't just a pop in a plane proposition.

My discovery flight began in the classroom under the tutelage of Mercury Flight Center President Richard Mu.

There I learned about the four basic principles of flight.

Wait, - Lift, - Thrust, and drag - Your descent, or you're flying straight and level.

All four of these forces will equal out into a stability.

So flying an airplane is gonna be pretty much like balancing on the head of a pin.

- The next step was a pre-flight inspection of the plane, which included everything from checking the fuel wing, hinge pins and coter keys to the engine and propeller.

A thorough once over from top to - Bottom condition.

No cuts, no cord showing.

Okay.

- And then there was of course a cockpit full of controls yet to contend with - Or rate of descent.

Okay, so when you're in straight level flight, it's gonna indicate zero, isn't it?

- No problem.

Finally, with the systems all checked out, it was time for take.

Oddly enough, somewhere up there, I lost sight of the airport.

But music was quick to point the way and direct us back for our landing.

- Unicom.

Eight three Bravo turning final runway.

Two, a full stop.

And there's the airport we wanna roll - Out on final, lined up with the center line of the runway.

The discovery introduction to flying was yet another fix of adventure.

But if such dared devilish activity is not your idea of a relaxing day or weekend off, then perhaps a scenic ride along Virginia's back roads is bicycle.

Touring is quickly becoming a great American pastime.

As an increasing number of clubs and organizations are offering local, national, and worldwide vacation tours.

Organizations like Open Road Bicycle Tours in Washington DC take the worry out of cycling by providing skill guides, planned routes, instruction, and training for all levels of cyclists, as well as food and lodging for longer trips.

Trips like the first open road sponsored tour across the Soviet Union.

This particular excursion routed cyclists along the back roads of Middleburg, Virginia, the state's famed horse and wine country.

For a weekend of scenic beauty cyclists set their own pace, stopping occasionally to refuel or simply to relax and naturally to take in the sights and charms of the great outdoors.

Virginia from its coastal shores to its Western mountain Ranges is a state rich in recreational resources.

Organizations like Adventure Sport, the Mercury Flight Center, and Open Road Bicycle Tours offer custom designed adventures for individuals of all ages.

From all of us, here's to a safe and enjoyable - Summer.

This is the final program in our first season of our place, our time.

We've certainly enjoyed bringing it to you.

We hope you've enjoyed watching it.

Hope you'll be back next season as we begin to take another look at this wonderful place we live.

Hampton Roads on our place, our time - Living in Sling it girl.

Come on now.