Editorial
The Pride Story
I
n the last issue of the Free State News, Vanessa invited the members to share their travel stories with the rest of us. In late May I qualified to be one of 6 paying guest crew members on the Pride of Baltimore. In June, July, August and September the Pride sailed up the Atlantic Ocean, into the St. Lawrence River to the Great Lakes to be part of the 2019 Great Lakes sail and race event. An event where a number of tall ships from around North America sail the great lakes to be part of festivals in US and Canadian cities on the lakes. More details about the Pride later in this article. My two tours of duty with the Pride were for one week in June from Baltimore to Lunenburg, Nova Scotia and again for 11 days in July on Lake Erie, Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. On Wednesday June 5 by 13.00 EDT I reported to the Pride’s winter berth, dockside on Clinton Street in Baltimore. The regular permanent crew of 12 was busy with all the last-minute activities and supplies to go on board. Right away all guest crew jumped in and helped and that is the way it was all during the trip. Around 17.00 EDT we left for a short stay in the inner harbor for a farewell event on the pier next to the Constellation where some members of the Fort McHenry Fife and Drum corps welcomed us. The executive director of the Pride and his staff, introduced the crew to the politicians, partners and sponsors who all had kind words for the Pride to again be the ambassador for Baltimore and Maryland and promote all things good. Once we left the pier on the way out the Patapsco River, we gave a cannon salute. Many vessels escorted us out towards Fort McHenry. We had to go back to our Clinton Street berth till around midnight to wait for the proper tide and currents going up the Chesapeake Bay into the C&D canal and Delaware Bay. That night the guest crew members received from the 2nd mate, detailed orientation about the do’s and don’ts and safety procedures. As soon as we left the dock the watches started. A watch (12 to 4), B watch (4 to 8) and C watch ( 8 to 12) every 12 hours. This trip I was on the B watch. At around daybreak I was on watch and enjoyed the first
56 • Winter 2019
and one of the many sunrises this time in the upper Chesapeake Bay into the C & D canal. Once on the ocean we were able to set some sail, however on the way up the Atlantic coast we had to motor sail a lot, because the wind was on our nose and we had a schedule to follow. What is there to do on a watch? Well, number one, a crew of 4 or 5 will have to keep the vessel on course and, yes indeed, with help of a permanent crew member, I was asked to take the helm on every watch for an hour and keep the Pride on course. Afterwards, back home again, knowing that I did sail a vessel with or without the almost 10.000 square feet of sail on the ocean, is one of the most exhilarating experiences I ever had. How do you keep course without any land in site for 360 degrees? You make use of the clouds, stars and moon AND you need to get a feel for the vessel so that the bowsprit does not travel towards port or starboard on the horizon. Only keep an eye on the needle of the compass to confirm the heading ordered. During a watch you are asked to do a boat check. Bilges in every compartment need to be checked for water. Check the air in the lifeboat called the Chasseur. Check oil pressure, water level, amps and voltage on both engines. Check generator and water maker. Check all the halyards to be free and on the right pins on the pin rails. All details to be recorded in a log. Thursday June 6 at 1100 EDT we were on the Delaware Bay motoring through smooth water and no wind. While in the Delaware Bay the captain mustered us and informed us about the course to be taken on the ocean and what each one of us including crew and guest will need to do in case of fire and man overboard. Friday June 7 0800 EDT 30 nautical miles east of Manasquan inlet, NJ and 30 nautical miles south of Jones Beach, Long Island. Doing 6+ knots and rolling with 4 to 5-foot swells (and loving it). Saturday June 8 0600 EDT We did not stay close to Long Island, but the captain made the choice for the Cape Cod Canal to Heget further north before heading east across the Gulf of
