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The Great Lakes Tall Ships Challenge© has ended. Muskegon was the last official ASTA Tall Ship port for the summer of 2001. In the four race series, Pride Of Baltimore II was winner overall in Cruising Division, having taken first place in all four races. A distinct honor, no question. There was no recognition, however, given to the best performing vessel in the whole fleet combining both divisions. I estimate that the top racing honors in the Sail Training Division would go to Grande Nellie who was distinctive in her performance because she has an all-female cadet crew. Pride II would probably be second in fleet considering her top position in the Cruising Division. But this is a guess on my part since no final time sheet was offered to the fleet by the race organizers. In the end, this overall performer is not important, except to a few, since the real winners are and should be the sail-training cadets.

The end of the Muskegon Tall Ships Event was marked by a Parade of Sail out of Lake Muskegon yesterday. The weather forecast was for another excellent day with clear skies and a favorable breeze for the parading vessels. The departure from the dock was easier than the arrival, although the crew did have to haul back two anchors in the process. With twenty odd vessels in the fleet all moored stern-to the pier, it took some about 2.5 hours to get every vessel out to the staging area. Pride II was the first sailing vessel in the parade behind a couple of escort vessels from the United States Coast Guard and several local tugs. With a fair breeze of some strength, Pride II proceeded speedily. Numerous anchored spectator vessels occupied both sides of the parade route. At the entrance to Lake Muskegon is a half mile cannel to Lake Michigan. The canal was lined with spectator crowds. Since the cannel is narrow, the distance between vessels and spectators was often only 100 feet. With Pride II under full sail and bowing to the puffing breeze right in front of the crowds, rippling cheers arose from the spectators as we sailed by. With a final four blasts of the cannons Pride II, leaned over and sped out into Lake Michigan nearly passing her tug escort.

Once into Lake Michigan, we had to maneuver through white caps from the 20 knot northerly breeze as well as several spectator vessels outside the breakwater. Once clear of the spectator fleet, the crew jumped to striking and stowing the main topsail and the jib topsail. The parade started at 1310 hours. By 1500 hours the crew broke into watches as Pride II beat her way to windward against the north breeze followed by Highlander Sea and Mists of Avalon.

Pride II has been motoring north since midnight over a calm Lake Michigan. I have a hope we will be able to make Lake Charlevoix for a little respite for the crew and an opportunity to see an old friend, a retired member of the Board of Directors of Pride, Inc. It will be a short stay as we still have another 150 nautical miles to Alpena, MI, and another weekend of curious crowds looking to see a tall ship or two.

Cheers,

Captain Miles