Guest Blogger: On the front lines of Race Two with Pride of Baltimore II

Deck Report
By Joe H., Deckhand

 They said it would be a sprint. A continuous six hours to achieve the longest distance possible. Every vessel could start wherever they wanted, going in any direction, under any conditions. And if they thought they could do better? Well, each vessel gets four days to try and try again. So what does this mean? No start line, no finish line, no competitors but ourselves. We are racing ourselves.

Captain Miles said the weather was forecast to be blowing out of the southwest as we were to depart into Long Island Sound. That coupled with the flood tide would be great conditions. We left the dock noon on Tuesday rejuvenated and jubilant after a relaxing weekend in Greenport. We ended up in an impromptu parade of sail between Picton Castle and Bounty. Picton Castle was on our starboard beam as we raised our sails and hopefully got within earshot as we chanted, “What’s up- PICTON!”

Race One Results

It wasn’t the best race due to the fact that the wind was coming straight at the ships, and no one made it past the finish line before time ran out, but we still had ships out on the water trying to work with what Mother Nature was throwing at them (you can read about Pride of Baltimore II’s experience here). Last night at the Greenport crew party, Tall Ships America Executive Director Bert Rogers presented the awards to the top four vessels. Eagle will be joining us again in Halifax but we had a visiting captain accept the award on their behalf.  As a special surprise, we had the captain and officers of the Indonesian naval vessel, Dewaruci, drive out to the very end of Long Island from New York City (where the ship is currently berthed at Staten Island) to accept their award. No band with them, unfortunately, but the captain could not have been more pleased to have been honored.

Is all of Long Island in Greenport?

Day two of the Greenport TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE(r) festival is well underway and we have a line of eager visitors stretched around Mitchell Park Marina. The decks are practically humming with the feet of all the people as they tour the vessels.  Crowds as far as the eye can see. It is a busy day out on the harbor with Roseway doing day sails.  She leaves tonight to head back up to Boston for another program and the harbor will seem so empty without those distinctive red sails.

Summer is here!

The fog burned off this morning just in time for the kickoff to the Greenport Tall Ships (R) Festival. All of our ships are here and the waterfront is packed with people.  It looks as though the entire village of Greenport has turned out to tour the ships.

Bert Rogers introduces the captains during the Opening Ceremony