CELORON - Named for the breeze that blew through a Frank Sinatra song, the Summer Wind is once again cruising Chautauqua Lake - carrying sweethearts and sightseers from Celoron to Bemus Point and back.
Launched July 1, 1998, the Summer Wind is now in its 11th season - having begun its 2008 schedule in May. Operating daily, the Summer Wind leaves its berth in Celoron's Lucille Ball Memorial Park sometimes as much as three times in a single day.
With room for up to 130 passengers, the Summer Wind offers a variety of public cruises - from brunch, lunch and dinner to evening entertainment events and combination packages that run in conjunction with Chautauqua Institution.
''We started out mimicking a boating company in Lacrosse, Wis., which we had trained with,'' said Marilyn Brainard, president of Paradise Yacht Cruises, which does business as the Summer Wind. ''As we went through the seasons, we began to obviously see what the people here want. We started adding entertainment and started packaging with Chautauqua Institution. We grew and we changed, which is something I guess you have to do if you're a business.''
This season, the Summer Wind has everything from country music and oldies to Jimmy Buffett, Neil Diamond and Beatles tribute acts scheduled as entertainment. A complete list of cruises and performers can be found online at www.thesummerwind.com.
Continuing to offer new themes, the Summer Wind is introducing ''Rock the Boat'' this year - a weekly night club evening which will feature performances by bands like the Untouchables, Only Humen and the Steve Johnson Band. Additionally, the Summer Wind is also beginning a shuttle service this season. On select Sundays, the Summer Wind will sell a $16 day-long ticket. Purchasers can then ride the Summer Wind as it travels from Celoron to Chautauqua Institution, to Bemus Point, back to Chautauqua Institution and back to Celoron. For its ''Shuttle Sundays,'' the boat will leave Celoron at 11 a.m. and return by 6:45 p.m. During such afternoons, the Summer Wind will dock at Bemus Point from 2 to 4 p.m.
''You get to see everything from the water,'' said Rick Willman
, Summer Wind captain and vice president of Paradise Yacht Cruises. ''If you drive up Route 394 and then come back on Route 430, you see the road and you may see a lot of things in Chautauqua County - but it's not like seeing the houses that you see from the water. It's a beautiful view of the whole area.''
For Willman, people are the reason he keeps steering the Summer Wind through Chautauqua Lake's waters.
''I have always loved the water and boating, but the thing that really gets me going is all the people,'' he said. ''You meet so many great people - people who come from all over the country to Chautauqua County. We have so much to offer here, whether it's Chautauqua Institution or Lucy or our many restaurants. We offer golfing and so much more.
''You meet so many different people doing this, and they're all coming out here looking for a good experience and a good time,'' Willman continued. ''For me, it's like a shot of adrenaline every time they get talking to you about the area and all the good activities we've got going on here.''
Details on the different types of cruises offered and the days which they run can be found online at www.thesummerwind.com. For more information or to make reservations, call 763-7447.
