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Greetings all from the Neuer Hafen Dock in Bremerhaven, Germany.  As I write to you, the Bremerhaven Tallships Festival is just getting underway and the crowds on the dock are growing, despite the rain and overcast skies.

The voyage down from Fredrikstad was yet another headwind situation.  However, we were able to get a slight slant on the breeze and motor sail close along the coast of Sweden, until we got under the lee of Denmark.  At that point, we were able to push for the western end of the Nord Sea canal.  Once in the canal, we experienced yet another placid transit of this beautiful and useful waterway.  We emerged into the Elbe River with a scant 60 miles to go to Bremerhaven.  These 60 miles, however, proved to be some of the most arduous of all.  The wind was blowing fresh from the west and, as we made the mouth of the river, that wind came against the tide and set up a rollicking sea, checking our headway and threatening PRIDE II's headrig with frequent immersions.

At this point, I am afraid I earned the displeasure of the Elbe Traffic Control.  In order to maneuver the ship safely, I was obliged to sail her laterally across the traffic lanes; a much more prudent circumstance than pushing into head seas, but disconcerting for those controllers who are used to seeing large steam vessels stay strictly in their lanes.  Still, this worked for us and we seem not to have caused any serious ill will.

Once we were clear of the river mouth, we finally were able to stretch out more sail.  So we shut down the "noise makers" and enjoyed a fine sail in a mere Force 5 breeze - the least amount of wind we've seen in some time.  From the mouth of the Elbe to the mouth of the Wesser River, which leads to Bremerhaven, is only 8 miles and we were soon standing up that river enjoying a broad reach and marveling at just how fast the tides run in that river - almost 5 knots at max flood! Something to keep in mind on the way out.

Off the city of Bremerhaven, we took in all sail and were directed to proceed to the "Neue" Lock, a brand new construction which we were assured was large enough to accommodate PRIDE II's length and width.  And so it was, with 2 feet to spare fore and aft.

The effort paid off, however, and we docked safely at Neuer Hafen dock, directly alongside the new German Emigration Center.  Our presence here was to participate in the opening of the new center and museum, which commemorates the emigration of some 7 million Germans, generally to the United States.  Our presence was especially appropriate, as the first vessel that put into the emigration center in 1840 was a Baltimore Clipper.  The museum opened with great fanfare and Pride, Inc.'s Chairman of the Board, Thomas T. Koch, was on hand to extend the greetings to the museum and Bremerhaven's Lord Mayor Schulz from Baltimore's Mayor, Martin O'Malley, and Maryland's Governor, Robert Ehrlich.

The rest of Sail Bremerhaven 2005 promises to be quite active, with crew parades, sporting events and many guests coming aboard to view the ships.  On Sunday, following the Parade of Sail, we are off to Baltimore, Ireland, to visit with our friends and host a reception.

We have reached the point of the season in which several of our crew will be rotating off.  While we will miss them all, we want to see them off and rested, so that we may see them again somewhere in the future.

Well, that's the news.  Till next time, fair winds.
Captain Beebe-Center