Schooner Days 2011 and the 22nd Annual Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race

Schooner Days in Olde Towne Portsmouth, Virginia

There're schooners here, there and just about everywhere!  It's Portsmouth, Virginia's Schooner Days and we're celebrating the arrival of the schooners after they complete the 22nd Annual Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race (GCBSR) from Baltimore, Maryland to Portsmouth, Virginia. With nearly 40 entries in this year's race, they'll be schooners of all types and sizes for you to view.

You'll definitely want to spend the day and take in all that Olde Towne has to offer. This is a great time to visit the newly renovated and expanded Portsmouth Children's Museum, stroll along historic High Street and visit our exceptional antique shops, art galleries and unique specialty stores that can only be found in Olde Towne. Have a great lunch or dinner in one of our chef and family owned restaurants, sports bars and pubs...there's plenty to choose from and you'll definitely find one to your liking.

You may also want to walk the streets of Olde Towne's historic district, full of authentic period homes that date back to the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries. Colonial. Federal. Greek Revival. Georgian. Victorian. In the approximately 20 blocks that make up the Olde Towne Historic District, you will find one of the most impressive collections of antique homes found between Alexandria, Va., and Charleston, S.C. The Olde Towne Historic District is one of five districts in Portsmouth listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places. Hopefully we'll get to enjoy some great fall foliage too!

Visit Olde Towne's historic district, full of authentic period homes that date back to the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries.

Schooner Days Events

Friday, October 14, 2011
Friday Night Rendezvous · 1830 Hours · An informal get-together at Roger Brown's in Olde Towne Portsmouth (316 High Street) for early arrivals. The public is welcome to come and mingle with the crews of the schooners that completed the race.

Saturday, October 15, 2011
There will be seafaring activities going on down at High Street Landing and North Landing. Schooners will be moored at both landings and may be viewed dockside. Some may be open for tours, but all will be available for pictures and this is definitely a premium photo op, so grab your cameras and fire away! Don't be surprised if you run into a sailor or two dressed up in period clothing strolling along the seawall- you'll think you've gone back in time but actually they're rein-actors from the Colonial Seaport Foundation.

Great photo ops all day at Portsmouth's Schooner Days.

Education Program · 0900 Hours · Selected schooners host area students for a hands-on learning experience. (See description below)

The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum will feature THE AGE OF SAIL  special children's activities from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Learn about the history of ships and the impact they played on our local history.  Also, kids of all ages can learn the different parts of a ship, and how ships developed over time—from the Chesapeake Indians to modern day.  Finally, participants can discover firsthand how a ship floats in the “Ballast Lab Experiment.”  The Age of Sail is included with paid admission to the museum and there's no registration needed.

Pig and Oyster Roast · 1300 Hours · This a private party (sorry, invitation only) at North Landing Park for captains, crew, sponsors and volunteers. The race results will be announced and awards will be presented in the evening.

Pig and Oyster Roast at the North Landing.

Sailors' Evening and Sea Chantey Sing-along · 2100 Hours · This is a chance for everyone to continue the post-race festivities at North Landing Park.
.
We've ordered sunshine all week-end long, so get out and about and aboard Schooner Days. Whatever you do, spread the word, and don't miss the boats. See you there!

We've ordered sunshine all week-end long, so get out and about and aboard Schooner Days.

The Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race Education Program

Wednesday and Saturday of Race Week

The Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race (GCBSR) education program brings young people living near the Bay on board schooners for a unique and exciting experience. The students enjoy hands-on lessons perpetuating the mission of the race — to promote public awareness of the Chesapeake Bay's maritime heritage and encourage the preservation and improvement of the Chesapeake's natural resources. We entrust these students to be the stewards of the Chesapeake Bay and the schooner fleet for the next generation.

The lessons learned and the lasting impressions made on these young minds can only be gained first hand aboard these historic vessels.

An education program is conducted at both ends of the Bay. On Wednesday, students from Baltimore meet the schooners before the race. After the schooners race down the Bay, they are joined by students in Portsmouth. All of the students tour some of the schooners and learn about the Chesapeake Bay, ecology and maritime history. Many of the schooners have well developed programs with professional educators that make these vessels very effective learning platforms.

Although all of the vessels racing in the GCBSR are classified as schooners, their forms, functions and designs are diverse. A Baltimore Clipper Privateer, an 18th-century sailing ship, was extremely versatile on the seas. She could engage enemy ships, seize their cargo, and cross an ocean all in one voyage. A Virginia Pilot Vessel was an early 20th-century sailing ship whose purpose was to send harbor pilots out to incoming ships as they entered the Chesapeake Bay. Her primary mission was to sail as fast as possible to get her pilots onboard the incoming vessels before any other ship could. An 18th-century Chesapeake Bay Pungy Schooner was designed to be a fast sailing cargo ship. Her lower freeboard made her cargo easy to quickly load and unload, which made her adept at carrying perishables such as seafood and produce. The differences in design of these and other schooners, although subtle to the untrained eye, become very much apparent as the students learn about the work schooners once accomplished on the Chesapeake Bay.

The 22nd Annual Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race.

In Baltimore, the students also visit a maritime museum as part of their field trip to the waterfront. The students in Portsmouth visit some maritime exhibits along the Elizabeth River. Touring the schooners is, of course, the highlight, as the students walk the decks of sailing ships and interact with the crew and captains. They see the bunks where the crew sleeps and the galleys where chow is cooked. They get a feel of the layout of the main deck and sailing rig when they work together as crew to raise a sail.

The lessons learned and the lasting impressions made on these young minds can only be gained first hand aboard these historic vessels. The GCBSR thanks the schooners who contribute to this program. Having a better understanding of the Chesapeake Bay ecology and history will enable these students to keep schooners sailing on the Bay for generations to come.

In addition to the hands-on education program, the mission of the race is further strengthened by annual donations — $147,624 to date — to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation to support its environmental education programs for children.

HISTORY

Schooner racing on the Chesapeake Bay is rooted in the trade rivalry between Baltimore, Maryland, at the northern end of the Bay, and Portsmouth/Norfolk, Virginia, at the southern end. The fastest sailing vessels delivered goods and people to their destinations and often garnered the best price for their cargo by beating slower schooners into port. Over the years, commercial schooner designs evolved for the bay's routes — taking into consideration shallow waters, local crops and regional needs, with speed being a primary concern to beat competitively loaded vessels into port. These schooners also played a critical role in our nation's early wars. While there are no cargo-hauling schooners now working the Bay, there are a considerable number of schooners still in use as cruising vessels and privately owned boats.

In 1988, when the City of Baltimore launched her flagship modeled on those earlier vessels, Captain Lane Briggs of the Tugantine Norfolk Rebel — the world's only sail-powered schooner-rigged tugboat — challenged the Pride of Baltimore II to a race from Baltimore to Norfolk, reviving an historic rivalry between schooners, captains and cities on the Bay. With the challenge accepted, the Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race (GCBSR) was born.
In 1990, a weekend in October was set aside for what had become an annual event, and yacht clubs at the northern and southern ends of the race volunteered to support the schooners and crews in their efforts.

Over the 21 years of the Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race, there have been some incredible races with schooners going to the wire to win. Harsh weather conditions in some of the races have tested the mettle of the vessels, crews and captains. As many as 56 schooners have signed up for a single race, and more than 150 — with vessels from as far away as California - have enjoyed the fall race on the Bay. The 2007 race was the fastest race in this long series. With strong following winds, several schooners set new records for both elapsed and corrected time. The schooner Virginia set a new time to beat of 11 hours, 18 minutes and 53 seconds, beating the previous record of 12 hours, 57 minutes and 51 seconds set by Imagine...! in the 2005 GCBSR.

With the growth of the event and the resulting focus on these vintage sailing craft, the organizers and sponsors elected soon after the start of the event to maximize the value of the race in very special ways. The race brings focus to the maritime traditions of schooners on the Chesapeake and brings attention to the environmental issues facing the Chesapeake. All net proceeds of the race are donated to support youth education efforts aimed at saving the bay. This is why the Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race is proud to say that we are "Racing to Save the Bay!"

Sailing With the Privateer LYNX. Destination: 2010 Schooner Days, Portsmouth, Virginia

The LYNX sails along side of the PRIDE OF BALTIMORE II.

Sail along with the Privateer LYNX as she makes her way south to Baltimore, Maryland to participate in the Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race and then to Portsmouth, Virginia for the 2010 Schooner Days. You can follow her daily travels by visiting the track finder site at http://www.sailwx.info/shiptrack/shipposition.phtml?call=WDA988  Please enjoy reading a few recent ship reports written since her departure from Montreal. You can also visit the Privateer LYNX website at  http://www.privateerlynx.com/

24 September, 2010
Day Four: Montreal, Quebec to Gloucester, MA
45�40.0'N x 061�26.4'W, In the Canso Lock
164 NM Run since 1200, 23 September.
Barometer at 1029Mb and falling slowly
Breeze at Force 4, NW
Seas: Calm in the Lock
Sailing between 6-8 under Fores'l, Stays'l Foretops'l, Jib and Main, until approaching the lock.

Our last lock - another "control" lock with little to no elevation change, is behind us and Lynx is on the Atlantic Side of Nova Scotia. The lively conditions of yesterday and the day before mellowed out into splendid sailing weather under a glimmering full moon last night. The breeze stayed with us right on to the Strait of Canso - which divides Cape Breton Island and Nova Scotia - where we were obliged to take them in for maneuvering into the lock.

Had conditions kept up the favorable outlook, we would have reset them just past the lock and sailed down the Strait to Chedabucto Bay and out to sea. But the forecast for tonight and Saturday is calling for strong contrary winds. Trying to make Lunenburg Harbor would have been quite a stretch, and there are few other very protected places for a Southerly going Southwesterly. Fewer still that are familiar to us.

So we anchored at 1450 EDT in an area off of Inhabitants Bay called, simply, The Big Basin. True to its moniker, it is a large, protected and lake-like piece of water ringed by forested islands and sparsely populated hillsides. The entrance channel was unmarked and slightly tricky, but the pay off is 360 degrees of sheltered anchorage. Sharing the anchorage are our friends aboard Pride of Baltimore II, so we must present nearly as pretty a sight to shore as the shore is showing us.

With over half the distance to Gloucester covered, we'll comfortably sit tight here tonight and tomorrow, then hope to take advantage of the Easterly and Southeasterly winds in the forecast to make tracks toward the U.S. again.

All best,

Jamie Trost and the crew of Lynx, snugged in at The Big Basin.

The Privateer LNYX  under sail. Photo taken from the deck of the PRIDE OF BALTIMORE II.

26 September, 2010
Day Six: Montreal, Quebec to Gloucester, MA
1200 EDT 45�26.8'N x 061�05.1'W, Sailing out of Chedabucto Bay
Sailed off Anchorage in Big Basin this morning at 0900, 15nm run.
Barometer at 1029Mb and rising
Breeze at Force 3, NE
Seas: 1-2'
Sailing Broad between 5-7under Fores'l, Stays'l Foretops'l, Jib, Jib Tops'and Main.

I imagine it is a rare occurrence for one Baltimore Schooner to be anchored in the Big Basin of Inhabitants Bay, Cape Breton Island, let alone two. And for the two to both sail off their anchors in quick succession is certainly something rare. But that is exactly what happened this morning when first Pride of Baltimore II (being further West and so less deep into the Basin) and then Lynx got underway.

Aboard Lynx we were appreciative for the respite of a quiet, wooded anchorage after so many hectic weeks and months of tightly scheduled port visits, tours, and daysails, and the recent brisk weather. And the boat was better for it too. It is not like sailors to sit idle while aboard, and so we spent Friday afternoon and Saturday on rigging projects and intense cleaning. Hosting thousands upon thousands of visitors over the summer was showing its wear on Lynx, and an intense morning "field day" got the ship back to gleaming in her compartments. We also took the afternoon to review safety procedures and drills, as well as wrap up some outstanding projects.

The day was the warmest we'd seen since leaving Montreal - woolies we shed in favor of t-shirts and though foggy, the Basin was serene. The offshore buoy reports indicated lump and grumpy seas with winds to match, but our little anchorage was quite peaceful

After dinner, we hosted several of the crew from Pride II over for an early evening tea and social call before both boats snugged in for the night and waited for the Northerlies to come.

Now we are still in sight of Pride II, sailing in company down Chedabucto Bay to Round Cape Canso and start, for the first time in six weeks, heading West.

All best,

Jamie Trost and the America bound crew of Lynx

27 September, 2010
Day Seven: Montreal, Quebec to Gloucester, MA
1200 EDT 43 44.8'N x 064 08.04'W, South of Lunenberg, Nova Scotia
183nm run since 1200 EDT on 26 September.
Barometer at 1029Mb and steady
Breeze at Force 4, SE
Seas: 3-4'
Motorsailing Broad on a port tack between 7-8 under Fores'l, Stays'l Foretops'l, Jib, and Main with maximum pitch and minimum rpm.

With favorable breezes, for now, Lynx is making speedy tracks Eastward. With a forecast of contrary breezes in the Gulf of Maine later this week, we are resisting the temptation to continue purely sailing, but have put to work Lynx's versatile power-train to help keep an aggressive speed of advance toward the US. As I have discussed in previous blogs, Lynx has a variable pitch propeller that comes in very handy in motorsailing instances. The sail plan we have has shown itself good for 6-6.5 knots, but by making the pitch as aggressive as possible we can add 1-1.5 knots to that speed with the engine in dead slow ahead, thereby maximizing fuel economy for speed. It isn't the most traditional or "romantic" way to go about things, but it works to get us on the move for our destination when conditions aren't completely ideal.

The breeze is supposed to fill in and allow for us to actually sail, but in the meantime we are entertained by a few marine sightings and the novelty that we have not set foot ashore in seven days. The sky is graying up, and the coming forecasts indicate some rain and fog, as well as a veering of breeze to South and then southwest. South is workable, southwest, will be a headache. For now, we are sailing WSW and putting some southing in the bank. Ahead of schedule, we can also afford to bear away on the breeze toward the North, and hide out somewhere again until it becomes favorable for getting down the coast.

All best,

Jamie Trost and the still dry crew of Lynx

 

28 September, 2010
Day Eight: Montreal, Quebec to Gloucester, MA
1200 EDT 43- 30.4'N x 067 - 57.8'W, Crossing the Gulf of Maine
166nm run since 1200 EDT on 27 September.
Barometer at 1018Mb and falling steadily
Breeze at Force 4-5, SxW
Seas: 3-4'
Sailing on roughly a beam reach between 7-8 under Fores'l, Stays'l Foretops'l, Jib, and Main.

Despite the soggy, foggy forecasts, the day has been pretty glorious. We were socked in a few times last night, but with the dawn the visibility has opened up beyond the forecasted limits for most of the day, and the breeze is a pleasant 16-18 knots, instead of the 25-30 predicted.

In short, we're pretty lucky. After an approximately 50/50% mix and match of sailing vs. motorsailing over yesterday afternoon and evening, we have been sailing since 0900, and making near eight knots most of the time.

Even with the more favorable conditions, this is not the breeze to get us to Gloucester. It already has a touch more West in it than anticipated, and is forecast to continue out of the South & Southwest. So rather than beat our way to Gloucester, we are making for the coast of Maine to wait for the wind to cooperate later this week when a cold front should bring the breeze North of West.

Unfortunately, the Coast of Maine wasn't designed for anchoring in southerlies, particularly ones with a touch of West in them. Sure there are coves and tucked away places if you travel up the Sheepscot, Kennebec or Darmiscotta Rivers far enough, but we also have the added wrinkle of wanting to clear customs and so maximize our detour. That leaves only Portland and Rockland as feasible options. Portland, terrific town that it is, offers little in the way of anchoring in a southerly, at least not close enough to town that a customs official would want to ride out in our rescue boat. And, with the westerly element in the breeze, it isn't easily reachable.

Rockland it is. Complete with a designated anchorage area just in front of town and well protected from the South. We should be there a few hours after sunset. And if not actually standing on U.S. soil for the first time in over two weeks, at least hook down in it.


All best,

Jamie Trost and Rockland bound crew of Lynx

Privateer LYNX sailing with the PRIDE OF BALTIMORE II

29 September, 2010
Day Nine: Montreal, Quebec to Gloucester, MA
1200 EDT 44 06.1'N x 069 05.7'W, Anchored in Rockland Harbor
60nm run since 1200 EDT on 28 September.
Barometer at 1018Mb and rising steadily
Breeze at Force 4, SSW
Waiting at anchor to clear customs

Rockland Harbor is a good anchorage in most winds. Which would explain all the mooring fields inside the breakwater. Those add an element of complication to sailing a Baltimore Schooner onto her anchor in the dark. The mooring fields cover most of the best anchoring ground, so the best a large vessel can do is get close. But not too close or there won’t be room to swing when the breeze shifts. And not in the middle of the entrance channel to the inner part of the harbor.

So on a breezy, rainy night we managed to dodge all those obstacles and execute the classic Tops’l schooner round up, whereby you fall far off the wind to get the fores’l into the lee of the mains’l and brail it in, then take in the heads’ls. Once they’re in, pivot around by putting the helm hard down and overhauling the mains’l to weather. As the ship comes head to wind, naturally losing speed already, the foretops’l goes aback and really puts the breaks on. Then, before she gets sternway on, let go the hook and take in the tops’l.

If it all works out right, you’re exactly where you wanted to be anchored. Or, maybe a touch close to the channel, but still pretty good.

That’s about how it worked out last night, which is a great show for a recently turned over crew who’ve never done it before as a team. And with two shots of chain out we had a relatively mellow night of it, despite the gusts and rain. But as of noon today, we are still under the “Quebec” flag – not the one we recently flew in Montreal, but the plain yellow one indicating we are eagerly waiting to clear customs. Rockland is a port of entry, but it is managed out of Bangor, where the small staff is largely focused on clearances at the airport there. For us, someone has to travel down to the coast, then out to our anchorage via our rescue boat. Luckily, the weather has cleared and it won’t be a wet ride.

All best,

Captain Jamie Trost and crew of Lynx, patiently waiting under quarantine.

The Privateer LYNX is the Recipient of the American Sail Training Association's

2008 SAIL TRAINING PROGRAM OF THE YEAR AWARD
2008 TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE PERRY BOWL AWARD
Transpacific Yacht Club's
2009 TRANSPACIFIC YACHT RACE - 1ST SPLIT RIG CORRECTED

The Lynx Educational Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, educational organization, dedicated to hands-on educational programs that teach the history of America's struggle to preserve its independence. For donation information, please contact the Lynx Educational Foundation 1-866-446-5969 509 29th Street, Newport Beach, CA 92663

Visit Pride of Baltimore II at Schooner Days in Olde Towne Portsmouth, Virginia

PRIDE OF BALTIMORE II under full sail.

Whether making harbor in a new port of call half way around the world or returning home to her berth in the Inner Harbor, Pride of Baltimore II grabs attention! Whether blasting off her shipboard cannons or skimming majestically over the waves with all sails aloft, Pride II makes a proud statement about her sponsors and her colorful maritime history. As the Goodwill Ambassador of the State of Maryland and the Port of Baltimore, Pride II represents the business, tourism, and educational interests of the state with unmistakable flair and panache.

Schooner Pride of Baltimore II moored at Portsmouth, Virginia's seawall.

Pride of Baltimore II was commissioned in 1988 as a sailing memorial to her immediate predecessor, the original Pride of Baltimore, which was tragically sunk by a white squall off Puerto Rico in 1986, taking her captain and three crew members down with her. Both ships were built in the Inner Harbor as reproductions of 1812-era topsail schooners, the type of vessels, called Baltimore Clippers, that helped America win the War of 1812 and finally secure its freedom.

Specifications of Pride of Baltimore II

• Tonnage: 185.5 long tons
• Overall Length: 157' (47.85 m)
• Length on Deck: 96'6" (29.42 m)
• Beam: 26' (7.93 m)
• Draft: 12'4" (3.76 m)
• Launched: April 30, 1988
• Commissioned: October 23, 1988
• Naval Architect: Thomas C. Gillmer
• Master Builder: G. Peter Boudreau

Since her commissioning, Pride II has sailed nearly 200,000 miles, and visited over 200 ports in 40 countries in North, South, and Central America, Europe, and Asia. In 1998 she undertook her first voyage to Asia with port calls in China, Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan. In 2000 she made her fourth trip to Europe capturing First Place in her Class in a Transatlantic Tall Ship race. With her sharply raked masts, her abundance of sail, and her sleek profile, Pride of Baltimore II captures the imagination and makes friends for Baltimore and Maryland wherever she goes. She is indeed a memorable Goodwill Ambassador.

Tops'l Schooner Pride of Baltimore II.  Photograph by Fred LeBlanc.

 You can visit the Pride of Baltimore II website by following the link here. PRIDE OF BALTIMORE II  Come and see the Pride during Schooner Days, October 15 and 16, 2010 in Olde Towne Portsmouth, Virginia. See you there!

Schooner Days 2010 Welcomes the Schooner Heron

The Schooner HERON close-hauled with the Schooner VIRGINIA during the beginning of a past Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race.

Schooner HERON was designed by French Naval Architect Dominique Presles and built in La Rochelle, France, in 1984. A sistership was built four years earlier, changes and improvements made, and HERON was the final product for this design.

Schooner Heron Specifications:

Length Overall: 60 feet
Beam: 15 feet 6 inches
Draft: 6 feet board up, 13 feet board down
Displacement: approx 22 Tons
Sailing Rig: Staysail Schooner
Construction: Aluminum
Engine: 100 hp Detroit Diesel

Schooner HERON under sail.

Schooner HERON  is generally high up in the standings, and won First Place in her class in 2001 and 2008. In 2001, she was overall winner, having the best corrected time of all vessels.

Schooner HERON jockeying for position during the beginning of the Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race.

Schooner Heron Charters is offering two seats for paying crew aboard for the 2010 Race. Click on the link here http://www.schoonerheron.com/gcbsr/index.html for information about this exciting offer. Wow, what an adventure!

Crew aboard the Schooner HERON in this year's Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race.

Visit their website at http://www.schoonerheron.com for information about the Schooner HERON and please be sure to come and participate in this year's Schooner Days in Olde Towne Portsmouth, Virginia and meet the crew of the Schooner HERON. See you there!

Schooner Dove II: Racing in the Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race

After Dove II sailed us to a 3rd place finish in the 2008 Race (with an inexperienced crew and only 2 days of sea trials after her 2-year refit), we had high hopes for the 20th Annual Great Chesapeake  Bay schooner race salted for October of 2009.

Schooner Dove II  racing in the Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race.

We crossed the start line rolling at 7 knots in 15 knot winds, with a double-reefed mainsail and single-reefed foresail as we anticipated that the forecast of rain, 40 degree temps and 35 knot winds during the night would bear out. The rain and temperature were as predicted; the wind did not exceed 25 knots. (making them the kindest winds over the last several races).

DOVE II  racing during the 20th Annual Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race

We built an early lead on our B fleet and on many of the boats in the A and AA fleets that had started earlier. But as it was said long ago, “pride goeth before the fall.” We sailed down the Eastern Shore at close to hull speed, so I didn’t call for any reefs to be shaken out, to guard against the high winds that did not happen.

Three boats with the sense to put up more sail sneaked by us in the night to place 1-2-3, and we placed 4th in our fleet, less than 11 minutes out of first place on the 80-mile course!

Captain Mike from the deck of  DOVE II observes the PRIDE OF BALTIMORE II

If we’d shaken out just one reef, would the extra half-knot of speed have made a difference in our finish? We’ll never know. But I have learned that even after several thousand miles sailing Dove II since her refit, I still don’t know how truly fast she is. My crew and I do take some solace from our 8th place finish (corrected time) among all schooners over the “long course” (126 mile).

Yes, we intend to participate again this year! The Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race is an awesome event that draws far more schooners than any schooner race anywhere, and sailing in it just one time is enough to understand why it is the biggest schooner race today. If you have the opportunity to take part in this race, on any boat and in any capacity, DO IT!

Captain Mike of the DOVE II

Visit the DOVE II at their website at http://www.schoonerdove2.com/ Stop by and meet the crew during this years Schooner Days in Olde Towne Portsmouth, Virginia, October 15 & 16, 2010. See you there!

Sailing With the Privateer LYNX. Destination: 2010 Schooner Days, Portsmouth, Virginia

Privateer LYNX under sail. Visit her at Schooner Days, Portsmouth, Virginia.

 Sail along with the Privateer LYNX as she makes her way south to Baltimore, Maryland to participate in the Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race and then to Portsmouth, Virginia for the 2010 Schooner Days. You can follow her daily travels by visiting the track finder site at http://www.sailwx.info/shiptrack/shipposition.phtml?call=WDA988  Please enjoy reading a few recent ship reports written since her departure from Montreal. You can also visit the Privateer LYNX website at  http://www.privateerlynx.com/

17 September 2010
Old Port, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Wx NW F2, 17 Degrees (Celsius) 2/8 Cumulus

Lynx is snug in at the Jacques Carthier Basin in the historic Old Port District of Montreal. Our Transit of the St. Lawrence Seaway is complete, and we transited 12 of the 15 locks in company of other Tallships. On Monday night and Tuesday morning, we transited the Welland with our sister Privateer, Pride of Baltimore II, but entered the river ahead of her on Wednesday morning, passing through the 1000 Islands area of New York just as darkness was giving way to daylight.

A brisk, bright day and a swift current allowed Lynx to clear the first locks by late afternoon – well ahead of schedule and allowing for a night at anchor, somewhere. Ultimately deciding on Lake St. Francis, we found ourselves joined by Pride II and the German Brig Roald Amundsen. Weighing anchor at dawn Thursday, the three of us continued the “stepping down” process through the last four locks together, reaching the final St. Lambert Lock together just after three. After boarding Pilots, we joined Bounty and Unicorn in the entrance Parade of Sail.

Even though the weather turned to a gloomy rain, a few hearty hundreds braved the showers to watch the ships as we fought the impressive current of the St. Lawrence river into the old port.

This marks the end our Great Lakes tour in terms of both itinerary and geography: Not only is this the last port before we head back to the East Coast of America, Montreal marks the lowest elevation Lynx has been at in nearly three months. All the locks are behind us, now only the swift current of the St. Lawrence remains to carry us back to sea.

Bonjournee from Capitan Jamie Trost et la equipage de Lynx

The Privateer LYNX off the coast of Greenport, New York.

 160 NM Run since Departure 1530, 20 September.
Barometer at 1022Mb and falling slowly
Breeze at Force 4, SW
Seas: 1-2'.
MotorSailing between 7-8.5 at 1400 RPM with Foretops'l set. Breeze dead astern

Montreal is a hard port to leave. Not for any real logistic reason, but for the personal reasons of the crew. The Old Port venue for the Tallships Festival was perfect, natural tourist draw just a block from the Old City itself, and except for a cold and rainy parade of sail, the weather was absolutely spectacular - clear and warm sunny days that brought throngs of people down to the event. Lynx
saw nearly 7000 people across the deck in three days.

And for the crew, there was plenty to do in their short time off. Montreal is a very old-world city despite being decidedly in Canada. It is often used as a stand in for European back drops in American movies. So simply walking the town was quite a pleasure. Add to that a lively night-life and it's a wonder we got all the crew back aboard Monday morning.

But now, nearly 200 miles down the river, we are experiencing the edge of autumn. What a difference from when we made our inbound passage exactly three months ago. Then the days were as long as they could be, and only the midnight to four watch was totally in darkness. Now the season is decidedly changing. Along the riverside the trees are showing swaths of color in the green, and the
rainy, cool weather that greeted us coming in to Montreal has returned from its weekend off.  Once again we are traveling out with our sister Privateer, Pride of Baltimore II, and Captain Miles and I will be in close contact to discuss the weather and share resources.

The breeze is building, and promises to stay favorable for a while, but it is definitely time to head South. Unfortunately, we must head north to nearly 50 degrees latitude in order to round Gaspe and do so. So off we go toward the Northeast - almost exactly the wrong direction to get to Gloucester, but the only way to do it by water.

All best,
Jamie Trost and the bundled up crew of Lynx.

The Privateer LYNX anchored at Appledore Island, Maine.

 
22 September, 2010
Day Two: Montreal, Quebec to Gloucester, MA
48°52.8'N x 067° 46.1'W, St. Lawrence River
150 NM Run since 1200, 21 September.
Barometer at 1014Mb and falling slowly
Breeze at Force 5, WSW
Seas: 3-4'.
Sailing between 8-9.5 Foretops'l, Weather Course, Fores'l and Stays'l set.

This passage might best be broken down into several stages. The first being the motoring from Montreal to Quebec city, with all its narrow channels, and still more motoring with a peppering of sail for the slightly wider section of river between Quebec and Escoumins, where the pilot station is. That section is behind us, and Lynx is again full length - we shipped the mainboom on to deck in Montreal, so that we would measure under 35 meters and not require the expense of a pilot.

But there has been plenty of river since, and since last night at 2300 we have been sailing it, with the breeze filling in from astern. Even our conservative sail plan has us skipping right along, and should have us into the Gulf of St. Lawrence by tomorrow at dawn. From there the next section starts, taking us down to the Strait of Canso, and one last lock before we can put the lock gear away. The Canso Lock is a control lock for the water between the Gulf and Chedabucto Bay on the south side of Nova Scotia, so it is not quite as daunting as the 15 we saw in the seaway.

But for tonight they are giving a gale watch in our waters approaching Anticosti Island, and favorable or not, a gale is a gale. So with the last of the sparse daylight here, we're going to tuck some reefs in and snug down for weather.

All best,
Jamie Trost and the crew of Lynx wishing you a Happy Autumnal Equinox.

The Privateer LYNX under sail with the City of Chicago, Illinois in the background.

 23 September, 2010
Day Three: Montreal, Quebec to Gloucester, MA
48°04.6'N x 063° 21.3'W, Gulf of St. Lawrence
192 NM Run since 1200, 22 September.
Barometer at 1027Mb and rising slowly
Breeze at Force 6, WNW
Seas: 5-7'.
Sailing between 8-9 under Reefed Foretops'l, Fores'l, Stays'l & Jib.

Out of the river and into the Gulf, and at great speed. Through a combination of currents and brisk wind, Lynx is onto the next stage of the passage, the transit across the Gulf of St. Lawrence. It is a bit lumpy and quite confused out here, but we should make it across the Gulf and into the Strait of Canso by tomorrow morning, and possibly anchor in that area to wait out the next weather system before pressing on along the South Shore of Nova Scotia.

It has been a surging 36 hours of sailing, and promises to continue through this evening. It might not be the most comfortable, but it is getting us in the right direction without using any more of our fuel - Lynx carries 1000 gallons, but the mileage from Montreal to Gloucester is roughly 1300, and we'd be hard pressed to motor that far if the wind didn't cooperate.

And, as has happened so often along our routes this summer, we were again within sight of Pride of Baltimore II exactly at noon today. With the same sail plan, but a longer waterline, she crept up on us steadily through the morning and is now fading away on the Southern horizon. They will get down to Canso before we do, but we hope to share the same anchorage together over the weekend.

All best,
Jamie Trost and the rocking and rolling crew of Lynx.

A bull's eye view of the LYNX sails and flying the American flag. Photo by Jim Sabiston.

The Privateer LYNX is the Recipient of the American Sail Training Association's

2008 SAIL TRAINING PROGRAM OF THE YEAR AWARD
2008 TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE PERRY BOWL AWARD
Transpacific Yacht Club's
2009 TRANSPACIFIC YACHT RACE - 1ST SPLIT RIG CORRECTED

The Lynx Educational Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, educational organization, dedicated to hands-on educational programs that teach the history of America's struggle to preserve its independence. For donation information, please contact the Lynx Educational Foundation 1-866-446-5969 509 29th Street, Newport Beach, CA 92663

Schooner Days in Olde Towne Portsmouth: "A picture is Worth a Thousand Words."

 The old and wise adage "A picture is worth a thousand words" and "a picture shows me at a glance what it takes dozens of pages of a book to expound" defines the purpose of this blog. Simply stated, I will never be able to describe to you what I can show you through my images of Schooner Days past.  And, as Napolean Bonaparte once stated "A good sketch is better than a long speech"...especially since we're entertaining over 40 schooners, so scroll down and take a look at what you can discover for yourself this October 15 and 16 at the 2010 Schooner Days in Olde Towne Portsmouth, Virginia. Make sure you bring your camera!

The Schooner "Sultana" from Chestertown, Maryland

A red star decorates the bow of the 'Liberty Clipper' from Boston, Massachusetts

The American flag hangs from the stern of the A J Meerwald with the Mystic Whaler in the background during Schooner Days in Olde Towne Portsmouth, Virginia.

The 'Pride of Baltimore II' is tied along the Olde Towne Portsmouth seawall

A close-up image of the Pride of Baltimore II nameboard.

The schooner Liberty Clipper gets her masts slushed before departing Olde Towne Portsmouth

The schooner Liberty Clipper gets her masts slushed before departing Olde Towne Portsmouth. Usually, it’s the youngest (lightest) member of the crew who gets outfitted, then strapped into a boatswain’s chair (boson’s chair, really just a board strung between some rope). Then this person is hoisted to the top of the mast with a bucket full of slush. These days, slush is not meat grease but Vaseline petroleum jelly. They start at the top, smearing Vaseline all over the mast. When a section is finished, they yell to the deck, where someone standing by lowers them a few feet.

“SLUSH FUND”-slush was the unpromising name for fat scraped off the top of the barrels of meat. The crew found it perfect for greasing masts to make sail hoisting easier and for preserving leather fittings. The cook, unhappy about this, would secret it in his ‘slush fund’ and stowed it away.  He typically sold it ashore, mostly to candle makers and people in the fish and chip trade.

"Beware of the Attack Flamingo?' Really!

'Mystic Whaler's' port light.

Wooden mast hoops used on vintage schooners.

Trailboard of the Schooner 'Lady Maryland."

The eagle figurehead from the Freedom Schooner "Amistad.'

A gathering at Schooners in Olde Towne Portsmouth's High Street Landing.

American flag flies in front of the Schooner 'Liberty Clipper.'

Schooner masts and rigging  decorate the seawall of Virginia's historic seaport- Portsmouth.

Silhouettes of schooner masts and rigging at the end of the day. Time to move up High Street to the restaurants and pubs. See you there.

These are just a few of the pictures from Schooner Days past and there's plenty more to come. So bookmark this blog and please plan to come and visit us at Portsmouth Virginia's Schooner Days. All photographs were taken by Joe Elder. Have Schooner Days pictures to share. Send them to cjosephelder@gmail.com.  See you there!

The 2010 Schooner Days in Olde Towne Portsmouth, Virginia

2010 Schooner Days in Olde Towne Portsmouth, Virginia

 October 15-17, 2010

Schooner Days is a celebration of the world’s largest gathering of schooners along the waterfront of Olde Towne Portsmouth, Virginia. It's held this year in conjunction with the 21st Annual Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race from Baltimore to Portsmouth- racing to save the bay!

A gathering of  great vintage wooden schooners are clustered together in Olde Towne Portsmouth for Schooner Days.

 This three day celebration offers numerous maritime-related activities, many are free to the general public.


The Portsmouth waterfront from North Landing to beyond the High Street Landing will showcase over 40 schooners from local and distant ports and is considered the largest gathering of schooners in the world.

Schooners line the seawall at Portsmouth, Virginia's High Street Landing

 Schooner Days was created to commemorate Portsmouth’s rich maritime history with a variety of scheduled historical recreation events including demonstrations by shipwright artisans, maritime related musicians, costumed actors and even a hands-on building of a skiff! Other exhibits will be on hand to bring awareness for the need to preserve and improve the natural resources of the Chesapeake Bay.