FISHER HOUSE - HELPING MILITARY FAMILIES

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Sailboat racer Mike Christman generally thinks of wind as his friend, but on his latest water sport adventure, it proved to be his worst enemy.

The West Annapolis resident teamed up with friend Sean Hooker on what they believe is a regional first - a stand-up paddle trip from Norfolk, Va., to Annapolis.

Christman, a 1985 Naval Academy graduate and former naval aviator, and Hooker, a former Army surgeon from Newport News, not only earned bragging rights, they raised $5,000 for Fisher House, a nonprofit organization that provides free or low-cost lodging housing to veterans and military families receiving treatment at military medical centers.

The duo shoved off from Naval Station Norfolk July 9 and paddled into local waters five days later on July 14, a distance of more than 130 nautical miles. They made stops along the way in Salt Pond and Deltaville, Va., and in Maryland at Point Lookout, Solomon's Island and Herrington Harbor before landing at Christman's home on Weems Creek.

They were shadowed by a safety boat captained by fellow Naval Academy grad Gavin Giddings of Eastport, and Hooker's uncle Tim, an Army veteran.

Headwinds, strong currents and large sea swells made the going pretty tough, said Christman. The former Annapolis City alderman lost almost 10 pounds through the effort. "We only made 12 miles the first day - we were almost paddling backwards," he said.

They hugged the western shore and kept on paddling, buoyed by the sights along the way and a host of good Samaritans.

Dolphin, manta rays, crabs, pelicans and one large but amiable sea turtle were among their companions. People they encountered donated whatever money was in their pockets to the cause and provided water, sports drinks and help as needed. Dockmaster Terry Walters at Zahniser's Marina in Solomon's Island kept the pool and pool bar open for the weary paddlers when they arrived after hours.

The pair paddled eight to 12 hours a day, tag-teaming it at the end when the conditions were roughest. The staff of the South County Cafe in Deale guided a portage from Rockhold Creek to the West River to help them avoid high winds and rough seas as they made their way toward Annapolis.

The ever-changing conditions on the Chesapeake Bay can make a journey like this a challenge, said Mark Saunders, owner of East of Maui. The Forest Drive board shop and Admiral Heights residents Jim and Amy Burdick provided equipment and moral support to the paddlers.

"To be able to do that on a 14-foot-long board is amazing. I've done that trip on a 30-foot sailboat and it was tough," Saunders said.

Christman, who got into the growing sport of stand-up paddleboarding a few years ago when he lived in Australia, is already planning a bigger trip for next year.

"We have a lot of lessons learned," he said.

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