Pride of Baltimore II’s Volunteer Winter Maintenance took on a new dimension this month when we welcomed Boy Scout Daniel Trazzi into the fold as he works toward earning the rank of Eagle Scout. The following is Daniel’s account of his project and his experience with Pride of Baltimore II.

It was 8:30 on a Saturday morning. The wind chill brought the air to something near freezing. And I was there, with a group of around ten others, to sand spars in a shrink-wrapped tent. My name is Daniel Trazzi and I am working on my service project to attain the rank of Eagle Scout. I am a member of Troop 35, which operates out of the Church of the Redeemer. Our troop is very proud that each of our scouts does a minimum of three service projects on their path to Eagle; often putting in much more than the required hours for each. Our Eagle project is expected to be serious and meaningful. I had looked at several options for my project, but was having some trouble getting it coordinated with the various organizations. My Scoutmaster, Jack Kidd, has a long family history with the Pride of Baltimore organization and he suggested that I think about arranging my service project to benefit the ship,  I was fortunate to make the arrangement and focus my activities on helping Pride of Baltimore II.

The celebration of the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 has created an opportunity to bring Pride II to the forefront of the hearts and minds of every person in the city. I have seen her written up in the newspaper and seen her on television, but had never had any firsthand contact with her. With this year being the kick-off to the Bicentennial of the War of 1812, and with Pride II being such a symbol of that era, to be a part of helping to get her ready for the festivities, not to mention to experience what it was like to maintain a ship of that era has been a rewarding experience. And not just for me, but also for other scouts that were involved as well. From my perspective, the ability to meet with Captain Miles and Captain Trost provided me with an excellent project opportunity. While it was a no-nonsense environment, the first half of my project was fun. After one day I came away with a feeling of what it was like to keep a ship like Pride II going; I can only imagine what it is like to sail her. We all know about the legacy of the Prides, now I feel like I have new sense of connection to Pride II.

On a cold snowy Saturday, I had 15 people come down to help. Rohan, a crewmember, was a tremendous resource as we worked, teaching us the necessary techniques for the various jobs. I spoke with Thomas Kibbe, an Eagle Scout in our troop and he said: “How different she looks all broken down for the work.  Can’t wait to see her all finished.”

I’m going back this Saturday with another group of Scouts. People have been very supportive, and many have been asking me if they can help. People who have “aged out” of our troop have offered to come back, which is a rarity in our troop. And it is the first time that I am aware of where people are asking if they can come to the project, rather than the organizer having to hunt them down. There is a serious and genuine interest in keeping Pride II alive. And hopefully, by doing this project I can get more people involved in working on Pride II.

I’ll leave you with a quote from Jack Kidd, my Eagle mentor and Scoutmaster: “ Lots of people know about Pride of Baltimore II, but very few people have taken the time to get to really know Pride of Baltimore II.”

-Daniel Trazzi, Boy Scout Troop #35, Baltimore, MD

Trent Hawkins, recent Eagle Scout, sands a spar.

The full workforce.

People working on Chasseur, a smaller ship that is usually kept on the deck.

PRIDE II is under her cocoon of white shrink wrap plastic spread over her wooden frame that bridges her deck fore & aft and rail to rail. Her spars (yards, topmasts, gaffs, boom) are ashore under their own cocoon of white shrink wrap plastic spread over quonset hut shaped wooden re-enforced plastic frame. There is a 6 foot x 8 foot “hobo” hut of white shrink wrap plastic over wooden frame with peaked roof for blocks to be maintained. We have temporary loan of the heated garage of the Maryland Port Administration Operations work site where PRIDE II is moored down South Clinton St. from the Canton area of Baltimore. There are four shipping containers on the premises that are the basis of PRIDE II’s maintenance and spare parts storage and work bench. The maintenance period is half over and it looks to us all like we are getting done what we hoped to get done.

That list of “do’s” included some very different chores. Oiling the ship’s deck and repairing under engine “containment”. Both projects required some dismantling and significant preparation time before the actual work needed doing could actually be done. Oiling the deck required removing hardware from the deck, things like deck prisms, then diligent sanding of the whole deck before the oil could be laid down. The engine containment repair/overhaul required lifting the engines up off their permanent “installed” position motor mounts just to be able to do the needed work to the under engine containment system.

As of mid January the deck received its first four priming coats. It is our goal that we get between two and four more separate covering coats before the 2012 sailing crew come aboard. In the midst of doing this the old dead and falling out deck seam pitch (seam tar) that was removed before the deck sanding will be replaced. Meanwhile the deck hardware will be re-installed. In the engine compartment the PORT side engine is now back on its motor mounts and connected. The STBD engine is expected to be lifted up this week.

Throughout this same period the other normal and annual maintenance is getting done. Spars have been sanded and patch coated three times with varnish where there was 2011 sailing season wear and tear…plus the first full coat sanded and ready for the second full coat. Block maintenance is near complete and ready for being re-stropped/seized into their proper slings of wire or rope, hence ready for actual installation by the sailing crew when they re-rig/rig-up the ship early this spring.

Still to be done are the down below cosmetics. The galley and the saloon area get a significant going over with varnish. Both the focsle and the aft cabin receive some cosmetic repair/maintenance as well.

A new chapter in the tradition of winter maintenance is the Pride Winter Maintenance Volunteer Program. Starting on a mid December Saturday some seventeen PRIDE II enthusiasts joined the winter maintenance crew to help prepare PRIDE II for her 2012 sailing season. Such a turnout of so many PRIDE II enthusiasts willing to work in unheated circumstances was far above anything we were prepared to predict. Since that December day we have had a steady turn out of volunteers that come both week day and Saturdays. The day to day numbers fluctuate with Saturdays bringing the highest attendance. What a boon to the progress of winter maintenance these volunteers have been! On top of this we had our first Eagle Boy Scout Public Support Team … (who are these Scouts?) … come do some PRIDE II maintenance this last Saturday. They did a great job and we look forward to their return next Saturday.

Looking forward to the next half of the winter maintenance period we all wonder what the weather will be like. Thus far winter in Baltimore has been mild. Especially compared to the two preceding winters! Unlike those winters, we have not yet had any snow and the cold snaps have not been very deep or very long lasting when the temperature did drop to below freezing. Thus far this winter, I am reminded of the typically mild winters here in Baltimore. But there can always be a surprise. Yes siree!

For those of you that have been part of our PRIDE II winter maintenance Volunteers, we thank you very much!!! For those that support us in other ways, we thank you very much as well!!! PRIDE is the only “real” American Privateer of the of 1812 War sailing today in the 21st Century. She is also the most well known world wide American sailing vessel. There are well known American “classic” sailing yachts. But PRIDE OF BALTIMORE II is the only representative of America that bridges all classes and types of sailing representations from our country. Your support of PRIDE II has brought this about. It is your support that will keep PRIDE II sailing and representing all that we Marylanders have long been proud of long into the 21st Century!

Jan C. Miles
A Captain with Pride of Baltimore, Inc.

Saturday, 31 December, 2011

Pride of Baltimore II, snug in and “quiet ship” for the Holidays
At her Winter Berth, South Clinton Street, Baltimore

Here at Pride of Baltimore, Inc. we hope you and your families are having the best of Holidays. This week, Pride of Baltimore II is on her first vacation of 2011. The industrial sector of Baltimore’s Canton neighborhood might not be the ideal vacation spot for a schooner that has traveled as far and as wide as Pride II, but at least she is getting a well earned and much needed rest. The racket of sanders and caulking mallets has fallen silent, the last coats of varnish and tar dry in private, with on one around to smell their aromatic solvents wafting into cold air. The winter crew are all home with their families, and Pride II quietly awaits a new year.

She might reflect on 2011 while she’s at it. This full and challenging year saw Pride II make her 13^th voyage to the Great Lakes, once again hailing at the Inland-Most Port in world of Duluth, Minnesota as well as visiting new or rarely frequented ports such as Rochester, New York, Marquette, Boyne City, and Ludington Michigan and Amhurstburg and Hamilton, Ontario. Sailing over 9000 nautical miles and hosting nearly 45,000 visitors for public tours and daysails, Pride II gained more than a few new friends. She also lost a great friend with the passing of former Baltimore Mayor, Maryland Govenor and long-time supporter William Donald Schaeffer.

Now, on the War of 1812’s Bicentennial Eve, the ship may be quiet, that won’t last for long. Even now, things are in motion – itineraries are being hammered out, appearances arranged for the ship as she figures to be center stage in the events commemorating the war that largely defined a young America. At Pride, Inc. we expect the coming year to be chock full of events and relentless in activity.

What’s most exciting about this tour de force is we’re bringing all of you readers, supporters, friends and volunteers along with us. Literally speaking, there will be a number of guest crew and daysail opportunities in 2012, but I speak figuratively as well. Just as the “Star-Spangled Banner” wasn’t written for the defenders of Fort McHenry alone, Pride II doesn’t arrive in port with just her crew, or just her mission of Chesapeake Bay and American Maritime History. She carries with her the message that she is the boat of her supporters – you folks – from the Chesapeake and from the great community of Maritime History Enthusiasts worldwide.

We at Pride, Inc. thank you for your support and encourage you to spread the word: in her 24^th year, Pride II is reaching her prime. Let’s make 2012 not just a Happy New Year, but also a momentous one!

Happy New Year to You and Yours!

Sincerely,
Captain Jamie Trost, the crew of Pride II and the staff of Pride, Inc.

PRIDE OF BALTIMORE II, Layed up at her Winter Berth
South Clinton Street, Baltimore, Maryland
Wx: Heavy Rain, but unseasonably warm, wind S F 3

PRIDE OF BALTIMORE II is tucked in for a long winter’s nap, so to speak. With not only the spars, sails, rigging, safety and accommodation gear off loaded, but the guns and life rafts removed as well, she seems large and lonely. Under the opaque shrink-wrap cover, the deck from house top to house top is uninterrupted by clutter, while below PRIDE II – her bunks cleared out, her shelves stripped bare – is like an empty house.

This scene would be more than a bit forlorn if it weren’t for the winter crew diligently working on the dormant ship. So far, Assistant Sarah Whittham has been seeing to the blocks and spars with first time PRIDE II Winter Maintenance Crew Rohan Rao alongside. Their work goes on mostly in to shrink-wrapped shelters ashore, nicknamed “The Hobo Tent” (after our acclaimed Hobo Band of a few seasons back) and “New Sparlandia,” the latest rendition of our PVC framed Spar House. After the collapses we suffered last winter, this version has a bit more wood in the structure. Tonight’s forecast snow and wind will be the first real test of the season for the improvements.

Aboard the ship Emily Gustavsen – new to PRIDE II, but well seasoned in the fleet – patiently works at removing deck fittings in preparation for sanding and oiling to preserve the aging Douglas Fir planking and keep in going another 23 years or more. Below, Engineer John Pickering already has the port engine suspended for some maintenance underneath.

A small crew, for now. Next week we will have a few more hands and be up to six crew, the number for a normal winter. On the War of 1812 Bicentennial eve, however, PRIDE II and Pride of Baltimore, Inc. are expecting this to be anything BUT a normal winter.

Set aside for a moment the upcoming commemoration of the conflict PRIDE II is historically evocative of, and all the associated excitement, anticipation and anxiousness associated with the lead up to her starring role. Our role in the War of 1812 Bicentennial is a story that will largely write itself: People love anniversaries and go to great ends to mark them with meaningful ceremonies. Since PRIDE II is among the handful of 1812 style vessels in the country and, of that small fleet, easily the most versatile and farthest ranging, her presence will quite naturally be requested at many of the anniversary events of the next three years.

Don’t get me wrong, we at Pride, Inc. are excited beyond compare that PRIDE II seems likely have such a prominent role in the Bicentennial events. But to borrow a phrase originating in the musket-technology of 1812, we don’t want this focus to be a “flash in the pan.” Instead, we are making moves to ensure the exposure and fanfare we receive during these historical anniversaries is not a peak, but plateau or, better yet a step. A step towards an increased presence and recognition, not just in the American and International Maritime Community, but to the people in our own homeport of Baltimore.

I say increased, but renewed is closer to the mark. PRIDE II, after all, owes her very existence to the people of Baltimore. When PRIDE OF BALTIMORE was lost and both the City of Baltimore and Pride, Inc. thought it best to close up shop, it was the citizens of Baltimore who insisted that their PRIDE be rebuilt, both figuratively and literally. The CITIZENS. Not politicians or mariners or historians, but the people as a whole didn’t just ask for, but demanded, a new ship. For all PRIDE II has done in her 23 years, for all her awards and accolades, for all the press and dignitaries she’s wowed, for all the miles sailed and people’s imaginations she’s sparked, if she were to slip beneath the surface tomorrow, we at Pride, Inc. could not in our wildest imagination expect a public out cry for another ship.

How could we? These are trying times, economically speaking. For a non-profit running a traditional wooden sailing ship that would be hard pressed to cover its own expenses, let alone support the rest of the organization, times are always at least a little trying. In fact, part of the reason PRIDE II’s stock has fallen locally is that she is more successful at generating income far a-field than at home and so has often been away to do business. And the current financial crisis has put even more acute pressure on our fleet. Everywhere we see PRIDE II’s sister ships tied up and not sailing, or even for sale. No longer benefiting from State of Maryland support, and now owned fully by Pride, Inc., PRIDE II has kept above water largely due to wise investing and future-planning decisions made by Pride, Inc.’s original Board of Directors. But any plan for a continuing future needs focus on re-establishing our local relevance.

Sure, donations are key. But donations don’t just magically appear on their own. A donation is an investment, not in something you hope to gain from, but in something that inspires you, something you want to inspire others. Not a single dollar has ever been donated without at least a passing flash of inspiration. And while PRIDE II has inspired thousands, perhaps even millions, we mean to make that inspiration lasting, ingrained, a fact of life for our home port.

“Great,” you say, “but how?” For starters, this Saturday will mark the start of PRIDE II’s first-ever volunteer program. In nearly two and a half decades of PRIDE II history, hundreds of eager people have expressed an interest in volunteering, but, sadly, we had no real system to get them involved. No longer. We’re developing a system – likely to be ever-evolving – and so far nearly three dozen people have answered our “Call to Arms.” This infusion of excitement and interest in PRIDE II is a big step back toward the public eye. And it’s not stopping there.

With help – fingers crossed – from a grant we hope to be awarded, PRIDE II also hopes to reinstitute educational programming in the 2012-13 Academic Year, but with a new program tailored specifically to the Baltimore Schooners, the Chesapeake Bay and the role Maryland citizens played in the War of 1812. It has been too long since Maryland’s Students were regular visitors to PRIDE II.

Just like the ship herself, under cover and seemingly dormant, but actually fair teeming with the toil of the crew both aboard and ashore, there is a whole lot shakin’ at Pride, Inc.! Next year the War of 1812 Bicentennial spotlight will shine our way, and like the fifteen star, fifteen stripe ensign still waving over Fort McHenry after the Battle of Baltimore, we intend to inspire long after the guns fall silent.

All best,
Jamie Trost, Captain

The sailing crew is gone. PRIDE is clean and stripped and under cover. The taken down spars are under a redesigned plastic Quonset hut. Thanksgiving is past. There is now a small winter work crew coming daily to work on a list of special projects and routine projects. Captain Trost is energized to lead this winter’s crew while I provide some logistical support and help with planning.

Taking PRIDE apart is a detailed routine that requires as much attention to detail as does operating PRIDE during the sailing season. Were we to be haphazard about the rig-down and storing ashore of ship equipment the winter crew would be faced with a nightmare of inefficiency as they try to do the work they are meant to do. The assembly of the ship’s winter cover frame and the assembly of a redesigned “sparlandia” shed takes a significant amount of time on top of getting PRIDE unrigged and unloaded. Spreading plastic efficiently and properly is somewhat weather dependent. Overall, the process of transitioning PRIDE from a commissioned and operational state to a secure and winter stored state requires considerable focus by both captains and the entire crew for at least three seven day weeks.

All ended well and on schedule Wednesday November 23rd at 1600 hours. By 1700 hours all were on their way to wherever they would be spending Thanksgiving. Another busy sailing season completed in good order.

Cheers,
Jan C. Miles, Captain

We give thanks for all the friends, admirers and supporters of
Pride of Baltimore II. 
We wish you a safe and healthy holiday!

Pride of Baltimore II Fall Crew (l to r):  Larua Cavender, John Pickering, Dave Kelly, Sarah Whittam, Meredith Spratt, Thanos Economides, Hannah Mahan, Ryan Graham, Barbara Krasinski, Jan Miles, Sarah Martin, Jamie Trost and Dave Clemens.

Every winter, Pride of Baltimore II removes all her running rigging and spars for an intense overhaul. During this “Winter Maintenance” period, blocks are serviced and, along with the spars, varnished; standing rigging is tarred and inspected and numerous other details are looked after. It’s a full plate for a skeleton crew. And on the eve of the War of 1812 Bicentennial, we are sounding the call for volunteers to assist us. This is a first for Pride of Baltimore, Inc., the non-profit that for three decades has been caretaker of the ship.

Spar Varnishing

Just as it is for the ship, the reward for all involved in the gritty work of maintaining Pride IIover the winter is to experience her sailing again in the spring. Dedicated volunteers will earn a daysail aboard Pride II once she is up rigged underway again.

While previous wooden boat maintenance skills are greatly welcomed, all Pride II volunteers really need is enthusiasm. Our professional crew will provide on the job direction and supervision as you work alongside them. Typical projects include:

Spar Varnishing: All of Pride II’s spars except the lower masts and bowsprit are varnished, and keeping up the glow requires multiple coats each winter. Usually, chafed and word areas are given special attention and are “patch” coated to catch them up with the rest of the spar. Then the entire spar is coated three times for cosmetic appeal and protection from ultra violet damage. 

Block Care

Block Care: Pride II’sblocks are a key component to the rig, as they provide the mechanical advantage for raising and handling the sails. In addition to the varnishing regiment the spars receive, the blocks are also dismantled and serviced on a rotating basis so that their sheaves and pins can be inspected. Re-assembly requires the use of traditional seizings to keep the blocks in their rope strops. Pride II crew will teach you the intricate traditional skill of seizing.

Standing rigging overhaul: The wire rigging that supports Pride II’s upper rigging is wire brushed to clean of rust and grime, then coated with a protective mixture. Parts of this rigging are “served,” or wound, in small diameter hemp marline. This marline is coated in tar to preserve both it and the rigging. This winter, an inspection of the splices in the standing rigging will see some of this service removed, and involved volunteers will learn this process.

Engineering: Pride II will be lifting up both of its engines this winter for inspection and maintenance. While the ship’s engineer will be running the project, assistance – from expert mechanic to eager to learn tool “gopher” – will be greatly appreciated.

Please contact us if you are interested in lending a hand.  Call 410-539-1151 or email pride2@pride2.org (indicate Volunteer Crew in the subject line).  Any and all skill levels are appreciated.

At 4 AM this morning, after 34 hours of steady motoring for a distance of 268 nautical miles (7.8 knot average) against a steady 25 to 30 knots of wind, PRIDE was able to stop motoring at the Patuxent River and sail into the Potomac River after breakfast this morning.

The above represents an atypical grind for PRIDE. Very fortunately, itineraries established for PRIDE usually enable her to sail more than half of all her transits. But in this instance, as in a small number of instances over the more than two decades of scheduling PRIDE, it was necessary to push PRIDE along with her engines most of the distance between New York and Washington D.C. because the weather was not only contrary for the overall direction of travel, but strongly so.

Right now, the peace of having the engines off is almost shattering for the absence of the muted grinding roar of two turbo-charged 4-cylinder engines heard down below and the constant buffeting blast of 25 to 30 knots of wind one received while on deck. The lack of motion due to the virtually calm Potomac River also provides a near unreal bliss of ease for any effort to move around the ship. The transit along the New Jersey Coast was a jerky heaving motion that could often send one to their knees or lurching heavily to the side. While there was a respite from motion during the transit up the upper Delaware Bay, through the C&D Canal and down the upper Chesapeake Bay, the main body of the Chesapeake Bay created a definite hobby horsing motion as a result of 25 to 30 knots of southerly wind all last night.

But after all of the above, PRIDE is not only now sailing in some friendly wind, she is on target to make the scheduled Tuesday 4 AM lift of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, which crosses the Potomac River at Alexandria, VA. To be sure, the Route 95 traffic that will crossing the bridge at that hour will not be pleased!!! But at least it is a lift that won’t be happening between 5 AM and 11 PM.

PRIDE just spent a week in Manhattan as guest of Denis Connor’s North Cove Marina, managed by the Manhattan Sailing Club. She was there to participate in the New York Classic Yacht Regatta over Columbus Weekend and remained the following week to host an evening reception for Visit Baltimore, a tourism arm of the City of Baltimore, and to do a number of public day-sails to raise revenue for Pride of Baltimore, Inc. There was no wind for the Classic Yacht Regatta, but the weather was unseasonably warm and dry, so it was a pleasant day on the water for the 35 regatta guests on each of the three race days of the weekend.  The ship was filled to capacity for each race, representing a successful weekend of revenue raising business for Pride, Inc. through the direct use of PRIDE OF BALTIMORE II. Later in the week there was a lot of rain and wind during the scheduled day-sails, as a result those were cancelled. But the Visit Baltimore reception last Tuesday evening experienced very pleasant weather indeed, along with a spectacular view of Jersey City across the Hudson River during the evening sunset.

PRIDE’s scheduled departure of North Cove last Friday was delayed due to fresh southerly winds creating a significant contrary sea state along the Jersey Coast. Friday evening a cold front came through as forecast, bringing strong southwest and westerly winds. By Saturday, the sea state along the Jersey shore was down enough, knocked down by the fresh westerly winds, that it was deemed appropriate to depart New York. The loss of 24 hours from the delayed start and the lack of truly westerly winds, meaning that sea state along the Jersey shore was still somewhat robust and winds were still south of west, meant that PRIDE could not sail fast enough through such sea state due to the wind being south of west, and make the speed needed to remain on schedule. So instead, her two engines pushed her along.

There was some serious debate concerning going all the way to the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay rather than up the Delaware Bay and through the C&D Canal then down the Chesapeake Bay. There is only an additional 20 odd miles to Washington D.C. using the “outside” route rather than the “inside” route. But the prevalence of the west wind turned out to be much less than originally forecast. Instead there would be additional southerly to southwesterly winds of some strength returning again Sunday afternoon. Those winds would be useful for going up the Chesapeake Bay, but PRIDE would not arrive the mouth of The Bay till early Monday morning, meaning there would be some stout headwinds while still off shore of the DelMarVa Peninsula. Meanwhile the Atlantic sea state persisted and looked like it would only be added to by the return of the southerly winds. By arriving near the mouth of the Delaware Bay around breakfast on Sunday, PRIDE could ride the Delaware flood current all the way up to the C&D Canal, plus catch a favorable “ebb” current thru the canal and down the upper length of the Chesapeake Bay. Turning up the Delaware would also eliminate exposure to the Atlantic sea state. The serious debate ended around 6 AM Sunday as PRIDE approached the mouth of the Delaware Bay.

Cheers,
Jan C. Miles, Captain aboard Pride of Baltimore II