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Yesterday we completed the ship's annual Deck Safety Inspection by the United States Coast Guard. This is a routine process for all certified passenger vessels but it always provides a special tension for everyone aboard. Our goal is that the inspection is flawless in every way, leaving nothing for the inspector to criticize before awarding the new Certificate of Inspection. On the other hand, inspectors are sent out not only to issue an up-dated copy of the COI (after first checking that all safety gear and ship's machinery are in good condition). They are sent out to provide an oversight advisory on the overall training of the vessel's crew. However, they make their evaluation without the intimate knowledge of the ship that the crew shares. There are valid reasons for this government oversight. Many marine accidents have been recorded over time that might have been avoided through better and more complete preparation and training. Since the USCG does a lot of training of its own personnel, they have a way of efficiently teaching what must be learned.

Pride II also does a lot of training and a lot of practicing. The complexity of the ship requires it. The crew is also made up of individuals that come from a variety of other traditional sailing vessels. Thus they are very familiar with training and practicing. Hence, when it is time for Pride II's inspection, they have been well indoctrinated into practices that have been found successful. Some inspectors are doctrinaire and espouse a single way of doing things. This can cause confusion and discomfort among the crew. Thankfully, the majority of USCG inspectors are considerate of the requirements of different vessels and their training strategies. Pride II's inspector is a member of this majority. Even so, the tension among the crew during the inspection was evident. We are now all glad the inspection was successful and that we are back into a normal routine.

From Chesapeake City to Baltimore

Pride II got underway from Chesapeake City last Wednesday and made her way down the Bay. This was the first drying day after a lot of rain during a significant northeaster that had persisted in the mid-Atlantic for the previous three days. With the fair wind, we set the foretopsail, topgallant, and one studdingsail, followed by the foresail and forestaysail. Then it was back to safety training and discussion while Pride II slide down the Bay past the entrances to the Susquehanna, the Sassafras, and the Chester Rivers. By late afternoon, the wind died to a virtual calm. Sail was taken in and the engines started as we guided Pride II to a quiet spot for anchoring just south of Rock Hall. A pleasant quiet and dry evening was spent away from the hustle and bustle of shore life.

The return sail into Baltimore harbor last Thursday was the first day of intense sail handling for the crew. It began with preparing the ship for sailing away from the anchorage (set the mainsail and maintopsail; get the foretopsail tied lose for setting once the anchor is off the bottom; prepare the headsails). Then it was haul back the anchor. In very light wind, this process of getting Pride II underway under sail is a very sedate one. It is easy for the crew to take note of the larger surroundings as they work at accomplishing their responsibilities. For quite a while, the wind remained light and Pride II nearly drifted with all sail set (including the gant'sl and the studdingsail). But later in the day, the wind came up fresh from the southeast as promised by the weather prognosticators. Pride II sped into Baltimore's Inner Harbor at a rapid pace while the crew took in sail as quickly and orderly as they could. Their orderly haste was spurred on by the obvious fact the harbor was getting narrow and the distance to it's end was speedily nearing. They handled themselves well. I think we are all seeing the proof of my earlier estimation that Pride II has yet again an excellent crew to care for her as she fulfills her several missions. This will be a good crew to sail to Europe with!

Cheers,
Captain Miles