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Greetings all. As I write this, Pride II is anchored off the West River near Saunders Point riding comfortably in diminishing northwest breezes. The crew is putting the final touches on "sea stows" of the few sails we used today and finishing other small chores before securing from the work day.

We enjoyed a romping good sail today, leaving out of Chesapeake City in the C&D canal and travelling south with a fresh northwest'r behind us - the result of a cold front passing through the area last night. The breeze was so useful that we only needed our topsail, foresail and staysail to push us along at better than 10 knots at times. The fifty mile run was accomplished in six hours which, while not a record, was a lot of fun for all hands. Tomorrow we will complete this transit to St. Michaels which is twenty miles distant. Our goal is to arrive at high water around 2 PM.

Our travels since I last wrote have taken Pride II to Havre de Grace and Chesapeake City in the northern part of the Bay. During our stay in both cities, we experienced frontal passages which brought more fresh northwest winds and chilly temperatures. The crew has resorted to their "Charley Brown" ensemble of clothing in an effort to stay warm.

Education was the primary focus for the ship's operations in these two ports, especially in Chesapeake City where 200 fourth graders came aboard Pride II over a two day visit. The way we work the education program is that, when we are all hands, half the crew are working with the students and the others are doing maintenance. It is a pleasure for me to watch the Pride II crew in action during these dockside training events. Their enthusiasm and genuine warmth towards the students is what really makes the experience for the kids as special as it is.

Egan Marine, Baltimore

Well, we're back in Baltimore preparing for the Parade of Lights, our final event of the year, and our own downrigging. Here is my seasonal wrap up.

After the first day of the sail down to St Michaels, the wind turned light and we had to motor sail to make the tide at the Maritime Museum. Our visit to the port was very enjoyable. The Museum always seems to have some new item on display or new project afoot to capture the attention of old salts and landsmen alike. After one night at the dock and an Open House, we moved Pride II off the dock to be able to do a daysail at low water the following day. We carried our guests to and from Pride II by launch and inflatable boat, an experience which seemed to add to the whole event. The next day's sail was again a treat with a strong south-by-east breeze which held to the east just far enough to let us carry good water out of Eastern Bay. We made such good time that by 1330 hours we were off Annapolis and, with the city dock available, we put in there for the night. The crew were grateful for shore showers after a couple of nights at the hook and water getting low. The following morning, yet another front had gone through and we were able to do a little grandstanding in the harbor, setting sail close to the dock, and proceeding majestically out to the Bay - where the wind promptly left us. So it was "simulated" sailing from there on with the engines chugging away to get us to our berth at the finger piers in Baltimore's Inner Harbor, our home berth.

And that was it, the last sail of the season. We shifted over to Egan Marine on Key Highway and began unbending sail and the general winterization process. But there was one more event to prepare for, the Parade of Lighted Boats in Baltimore Harbor on December 6. The organizers of the Parade indicated that they were a hardy lot and that it would take a major weather event to stop the Parade. Well, if you're from Baltimore (or the northeast United States), you may recall that we got our first winter storm starting the evening of Thursday the Nov. 4. Sooooo the hardy Pride II crew rigged the ship with Christmas lights as we were getting 6-8 inches of snow in the downtown area. Kind of fun, actually, once the fingers thawed out. By the evening of the Parade, it had cleared completely and the Inner Harbor was still and chilly. Nothing some cannon fire salutes couldn't remedy as Pride II led the Parade to the Harbor and then served as a turning mark for the rest of the participating vessels. A good time was had by all.

At present we are in our winter slip at Egan Marine. As of this writing. the yards and topmasts are on the dock, the engines and generator are winterized, and the winter cover frames are about 2/3rds in place. We have one more week to go before the contracts of this season's crew expire. While there will probably be a little bit of scrambling towards the end, I believe we will finish the work on time. The winter maintenance crew will pick up the threads after the new year.

I am signing off of Pride II today, to rejoin her in March for the rig up for the 2004 sailing season. Captain Miles will be in the driver's seat until that time with me on call by phone and computer. I will spend the winter working for my wife as her mate aboard the Geronimo, a sail training vessel operating in the Bahamas' out islands tagging turtles. Tough duty - but, hey. For me Fall '03 aboard Pride II has been a time of learning, getting to know the vessel and her program, and becoming comfortable in her operations. While voyaging in the Bay has been very important in its own right, it has also served as training passage for me. Training which I believe will stand me in good stead next year as we prepare to take Pride II further afield to more adventures, showing the flag, making new connections, and sailing on. Until the Spring then...

Happy holidays and fair winds!

Captain John Beebe-Center