Yacht
A lot of charter guests select a yacht based on how it looks from the outside (exterior styling, as industry lingo terms it). That’s a shame in the case of a yacht like Irony, which has a unique, almost commercial exterior look but an interior that is so warm and comfortable, it will make you feel at home inside of ten seconds.

The yacht’s designer intended for the boat to be lived onboard full time, and thus created terrific spaces such as living areas and sleeping cabins with an unusual 7 feet of headroom. (Who wants to crouch while getting into bed or watching television?)

When you’re onboard Irony, you feel like you’re visiting somebody’s summer cottage, not “making due” on a cramped little boat.

Crew
Dan and Libby Cole make a terrific couple and a terrific couple of captains. Both in their mid-30s, they have a penchant for providing special service in a casual environment. You won’t find them in dress whites, but you will find their attitude to be top-notch.

The member of Irony’s crew you’re most likely to remember, though, is the Coles’ golden retriever, Montana. She lives onboard regularly and stays onboard for charters if guests don’t mind, always out of the way and perfectly behaved. If you’re a dog lover, she’ll curl up with you pretty much anywhere you choose, and she’s always up for a good walk or game of fetch when the yacht pulls into port. You can even bring your favorite Fido from home to play with her during your cruise.

If you don’t want Montana onboard during your charter, simply tell your broker and the dog will stay ashore with the Coles’ family. But if you’re a dog lover, we suggest getting to know her. She’ll win you over, just like the Irony.

Chef
Libby Cole acts as Irony’s chief stewardess and chef. That’s a tall order with six guests onboard, but she pulled off her duties without a hitch during our charter. Libby is not a trained chef, per se, but she is a good cook, and she always left our bellies happy.

A typical three-course dinner includes:

• Caesar salad
• Filet of local rockfish wrapped in parchment paper, served with asparagus and prosciutto
• Crème brulée 

Libby is also a heck of a lot of fun to hang out with, whether you want her to teach you archery or basic painting skills. If you stop at Pintail Point to shoot some sporting clays and she has time in her schedule, she’ll even challenge you to a game of Wobble (or show up halfway through your own game with piping hot cider and freshly baked cookies).

Accommodations
There are three cabins onboard Irony. The master is aft, with its own opening to a private balcony on the yacht’s swim platform. The VIP is forward with a V-shaped berth that’s longer, wider, and more comfortable for two adults than any other we’ve seen. The third cabin is a little tight, toward the middle of the yacht with a bathroom across the hall, but two reasonable adults can make due there for a week’s time without feeling terribly cramped.

Four people onboard Irony seems perfect to us, though you should be able to fill the boat with six guests and still not feel too squished. Just make sure you put the least-likely-to-complain couple in that third stateroom, and all should be fine.
 
Destination
The section of the Chesapeake Bay that includes Oxford and Maryland looks like it’s right out of a storybook. St. Michaels, in particular, has a main street lined with charming shops offering everything from homemade jams and jellies to hand-crafted Christmas tree ornaments. A few of the shops have nautical themes, selling everything from antique compasses to sea-themed paintings.

Our favorite part of the trip, though, was cruising up the Wye River to visit Pintail Point, part of a golf-and-restaurant club called The River Plantation. If you like to hunt or shoot sporting clays, Pintail Point is an excellent destination. Irony docks right on the property’s edge, and you can use a golf cart to get back and forth to the course at your leisure (the same is true for golfers).

Bring your sense of nautical history and homegrown fun to this destination, and you’ll have a great time.