Pride and her crew managed to get a pretty good start in the 2009 Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race, which enabled her to lead her southern Chesapeake Bay sister Virginia over the finish line. Pride crossed at 03:43:20 Friday morning, October 16, 2009.

Virginia was in hot pursuit of Pride for all but the last 8 nautical miles of the race. After the start Virginia drag raced between 0.5 and 2.5 miles behind PRIDE at speeds between 7 and 11 knots.  Eventually Pride was able to extend her lead and finished about 45 minutes ahead of Virginia.

The race down the bay was cold and wet with on again off again heavy mist. All hands were awakened for the finish line crossing to help get all sail in and stowed. After tidying the ship up this morning all hands will be standing down for the day.  Then we just wait for the rest of the fleet to come in and the final results to be tallied.

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