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Chesapeake schooner race

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JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Initially Posted - 10/12/2010 : 10:37:52

I anchored out Sunday night, and was serenaded by an old salt singing sea shanties and folk songs aboard the Mystic Whaler that had anchored next to me in 12 ft of water behind Dobbins Island on the Magothy River. That was cool!

I read that she had in a previous Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race taken 3rd place in her class. The course is from Baltimore, MD at the north end of the Bay to Portsmouth, VA at the south end of the Bay. It's about 75 miles.

Then I tried to sail early Monday, but there was no wind...just schooners!

I saw 5 more schooners motoring up the Chesapeake Bay towards Baltimore in preparation for the Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race 2010. Here's a first time entry in the race, the schooner Russamee, steaming up the Bay.

So I motored back to the marina, and on the way passed the topsail schooner Pride of Baltimore II, that can hit 9 kt and had previously placed second in her class. The Pride II was drifting near the mouth of the Magothy River, with her crew working on the 3 furled jibs.

The original Pride of Baltimore was a privateer that harassed the British fleet during the War of 1812.

Lucky for me, nobody was manning the starboard cannons.

Sail handling with a flying jib, outer jib, and inner jib on the bowsprit needs a lot of crew. I wonder how they fly the topsails? I think they may be rigged with lines from the deck. I bet they don't climb the ratlines, matees!

I plan to take the day off and head out on Thursday morning to catch the start of the race just south of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge at 1 PM. Looks like rainy weather with moderate winds, but these folks are all gung-ho schooner sailors! Arrrgh!

<font size="1"> CHESAPEAKE BAY FROM POOLES ISLAND TO SANDY POINT-
1201 PM EDT TUE OCT 12 2010

THU
E WINDS 10 KT. WAVES 2 FT. RAIN.

THU NIGHT
NW WINDS 10 KT. WAVES 1 FT. RAIN LIKELY.

FRI
NW WINDS 10 TO 15 KT. WAVES 2 TO 3 FT.</font id="size1">

JohnP
1978 C25 SR/FK "Gypsy"
Mill Creek off the Magothy River, Chesapeake Bay
Port Captain, northern Chesapeake Bay

Edited by - JohnP on 10/12/2010 18:20:22

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 10/12/2010 : 10:48:06

If the schooner races are of interest to you here's a book worth reading (with some great pics too): http://tiny.cc/yqanf

Its the story of teh Grand banks schooner races from way back when. A good insight into a lost tradition.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 10/12/2010 : 14:09:09

The Mystic Whaler lost her berth in Mystic--now sails out of New London. She has a brick barbecue and does great dinner cruises! We're hoping she'll be back next year.