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Captain's Log – PRIDE is Back!

Date: Wednesday, October 6, 2016

Position: At anchor south of Rock Hall, Eastern Shore, MD

The day before returning to Baltimore from a busy 2016 Campaign in the Great Lakes.

We got ahead of schedule again. Had a smooth ride under engine power all the way to Delaware Bay. Thence, up it in the dark of night, followed by the C&D Canal to a quick anchorage near Arnold Point up at the head of the Chesapeake Bay around 3:30 AM Tuesday morning.

Not having any sailing weather from New Bedford, and having smooth seas out in the Atlantic, meant no significant demands upon the crew. Instead plenty of rest. If over rested, lots of reading and even some board games or card games just ahead of supper.

With pleasant, dry weather in the program yesterday, plus a north-northeast breeze of some strength, the crew hauled back the anchor after breakfast and set the square-topsail so Pride could glide serenely downward, southward in the Chesapeake Bay. With no other sails to fuss with, the dry weather, and knowing we would be anchored for the night, all hands turned to maintenance with a will. ‘Want to have Pride looking good’ for her celebratory arrival home after some 7,500 nautical miles and 121 days from her June 7 departure to her return home tomorrow, October 6. Hmm…an overall average of 62 nautical miles per day. Must have made some decent speed during those transit days, huh?

Sailed right up to her Tuesday night anchorage on the Eastern Shore, south of Rock Hall. Had to set the foresail and forestaysail to make sailing to anchor feasible. Needed some fore&aft sail to assist the square-sail to get to windward. A quiet night at anchor with a full night’s rest and today was more maintenance. Finished the projects started. Tomorrow is The Day of Arrival. Some cleaning to do ahead of actual entry and picking up some VIPs for the parade and cannon salutes into the Inner Harbor.

All work and no play, maybe someone is thinking? Not quite. Last night was one of the occasional movie nights. A great night for it as well, being as the ship was safely at anchor in very benign conditions. But also because it was an opportunity to introduce the ship’s youngest crew member to a coming of age experience. Gray turned 20 years yesterday. Ship’s Cook, Phil, baked a cake with chocolate icing and best wishes written on top and 20 colorful flame candles. Some of the musically inclined assisted birthday singing with violin and penny whistle.

Happy Birthday Gray!

And Pride is back!

Signed,

Captain Jan C. Miles