Wednesday, 29 May 2013

Pos: 45 45.6’N x 061 35.0’W
Wx: SE F 4, Seas 1′
Pride of Baltimore II Sailing under Fore Tops’l, T’gallant, Stuns’l,
Stays’l, Jib and Jib Tops’l at 6 knots

Pride of Baltimore II is sailing comfortably along in the chilly waters of St. Georges Bay, Nova Scotia, just between the mainland and picturesque Cape Breton Island. It’s been a busy couple of days for the crew since we ended
our weekend layover in Lunenburg Harbor on Monday afternoon. Sailing out from the Fisheries Museum, we were able to wave hello to our “sister” privateer Lynx just in to clear customs.

I’d read about the lump conditions Lynx had crossed the Gulf of Maine in, and was hoping things would be settled down for us. But no such luck. Once Pride II cleared Cross Island at the east end of Lunenburg Bay, the breeze
faded and the leftover southerly and southwesterly swell had us churning chaotically. Before we were able to get sail in and start motoring to gain control, we experienced what will long be remembered as the Flying Chowder Incident, and a few long hours of associated galley clean up.

Without much breeze to redirect it, the lumpy sea followed us for about 18 hours, until a fresh northwest wind filled in and soon had Pride II up to nine knots. Being northwest, however, it meant quite a bit of tacking up
Chedabucto Bay after rounding Cape Canso, Nova Scotia’s easternmost point. Inside the bay, the sea was flat, the breeze fairly steady and the scenery stunning as we beat our way northwards to anchor in Inhabitants Bay for the night.

Now, after a quick motor to the control lock that separates the waters of Chedabucto and St. Georges Bays, Pride II is bound onward through the Northumberland Straights toward Miramichi. Around this time yesterday, we passed 45 degrees North Latitude, half way between the Equator and the North Pole. Last night’s frosty temperatures sure reminded us of that.

All best,

Captain Jamie Trost and Northbound crew of Pride of Baltimore II