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Hello folks! I am back aboard PRIDE II in the Great Lakes after spending some time in the Baltimore office adding my effort to see that the ship, which like all ships "floats on a sea of paper," continues on.  

I rejoined PRIDE II in Cleveland, where Captain Miles had arrived on July 12, and relieved him on the 14, which was about mid-way through the Cleveland Harborfest Festival.  Cleveland is always a well-organized event and this yearās festival did not disappoint.  Fourteen ships were in attendance and all were near to one another, which made for one of the nicer social gatherings for the sailors in recent years.  After the gates closed and the daily clean-ups were finished, impromptu social events began happening in the festival-provided pavilion tents by each ship; guitar and violin music here, swing dancing over by UNICORN, a wire splicing class at the PICTON CASTLE, etc.  Very pleasant.

On the morning of the July17, all the ships departed their docks to fall in for the ASTA sponsored race from Cleveland to Western Lake Erie.  This race promised to be a momentous occasion for PRIDE II, as it would be our first race since the dismasting in the Bay of Biscay on September 5, 2005 (the first race since her repair and return to the USA).  The weather was light winds and hot.  The winds were out of the south west and so we headed close to the line, setting everything but the ring tail and the stunsls and made a good start - we were across the line within one minute of the gun, making about one knot.  And there the whole fleet of ships fell into a wind hole. Barely a breath of air for 45 minutes with us moving just perceptibly, keeping steerage way.  This is a testament to PRIDE IIās ability as a fast sailor.  Several of the other vessels were not able to keep control of their ships and were caught aback when finally the wind began to arrive.  And here we got lucky - we were a quarter mile ahead of the fleet and received the wind first with WINDY II (next in the fleet) having to wait 20 minutes for the breeze to get to her.

So we were off and the wind slowly built throughout the afternoon.  Our speed crept up to five knots, then six knots and kept increasing.  Finally as we passed nine knots, we took in t'gallants and jib top.  The wind also backed into the south and we were able to do the entire race on one tack!  Very civilized.  We crossed the finish line 1 hour and 37 minutes before the next vessel, but this did not mean that PRIDE II had definitely won.  The tallships who race receive various handicaps designed to equalize their winning opportunity.  PRIDE II has so long been known as a flash ship and a quick sailor that her handicap is significant.  The crew jokes that, to win, we must beat the next fellow by not hours but days.  So, while we thought we had a good shot at winning, we did not know for certain.

Meanwhile we made our way to the mouth of the Detroit River where we anchored up to await first light for the transit up the river on our continuing trip to Bay City, Michigan.  Unhappily, no sooner had we dropped the hook when a well-defined line of thunderstorms appeared on radar 50 miles to windward and moving very fast.  After the first pulse went through, we up-anchored and sailed in a small portion of the Western part of Lake Erie waiting for the rest of the storm to pass. Really impressive pyrotechnics.  

The River itself was uneventful and a motor boat ride.  Many of the fleet pulled into the berth now owned by HIGHLANDER SEAS in Port Huron, MI, before departing the next day for Lake Huron and Bay City.  More thunderstorms threatened, but not as significantly as down in Lake Erie and so Thursday, July 20, saw the fleet forming outside the river mouth at the bottom of Saginaw Bay and parading into the port with much horn blowing and cannon fire in front of an appreciative crowd.  Bay City was a remarkably friendly port with the organizers really going out of their way to be certain the ships were comfortable and provided for, and the weather was perfect for a tallship gathering.  There was a big turn out of folks from all over that part of Michigan and everyone had a great time.  Now we are en route to Green Bay, WI, where another festival and race awaits us - a race with bigger and faster ships than the first race.  But, we did have the satisfaction of hearing from the Race Coordinator on Sunday night that it appeared that PRIDE OF BALTIMORE II had won her first race back in harness.

Cheers,
Captain Beebe-Center