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Greetings from Lorain, Ohio!

To recap since I last wrote - Chicago was a busy stop with many folks coming to visit daily and many distractions for the crews in their off hours. My personal favorite field trip was to the Museum of Science and Industry to see the Da Vinci exhibit and the German U-boat captured during World War II.

From Chicago onward we are part of a smaller tallship fleet, with many vessels heading to their home ports, both in and out of the lakes. It has been an extremely social Tall Ships summer and there was a pang of parting to see old friends heading off in different directions until the next rendezvous.

The sail from Chicago to Port Huron was first rate with a gradually freshening westerly wind, providing great sailing up through the Manitou passage and into Charlevoix, Michigan, where we stopped for a quick bit of R and R, courtesy of the Kidd family.  The Kidds are long time friends of PRIDE II and have always left a standing invitation to the ship to drop by for a picnic on Walloon Lake any time we are in the area.  The sailing had been so quick that we had the time and in we went.  The crew found the event to be very relaxing.  After a meal and a swim, there was a row of sleeping sailors in a line of deck chairs by the water's edge. Many thanks to the Kiddâs for such a pleasant stop.

Departing Charlevoix, the wind was fresh from the northwest, which provided a pleasant sail through Mackinac and the islands before finally petering out near Alpina, Michigan.  At that point we were obliged to motor down towards the bottom of Lake Huron. We arrived in Port Huron, the first of six tallships participating in the Port Huron Tall Ships event.  The event itself was well organized and heavily attended.  Admission for this event was a donation of food/canned goods for the needy.  Cheers to Acheson Ventures for sponsoring such an event.

During the event, there was a reunion of a significant nature to our sailing community; the reunion of all previous BRIGANTINE ROMANCE crew÷right there on the St. Claire River.  This was sparked by the presence in that area of the Captain of ROMANCE, Skipper Arthur Kimberly and his "Bride" Gloria.  The Kimberly's sailed ROMANCE around the world, seven times I believe, in the 70s and early 80s and trained many sailors in the sailing arts.  That generation, in turn, trained many of the captains and officers present in the tallship fleet today.  When one traces the history of sail training in America, Skipper and Mrs. K. are lynch pins in its evolution and it was a rare privilege to visit with them and so many old shipmates. Salut ROMANCE!

From Port Huron it was off to Lorain, Ohio. We were pleased to learn that NIAGARA would be there as well, and, as we were both heading the same direction, we conspired to have a "Tall Ships Game" or friendly rendezvous somewhere in the Bass Islands during our time en route.  After some pleasant, if light-air sailing, we both pulled into the North end of Kelly's Island, launched both vessels' smaller boats including our Chasseur, enjoyed small boat handling drills and prepared for an all hands BBQ on the beach for dinner.  Later that evening, we joined the crew of the NIAGARA while they convened the "Bosunâs Court," an annual event where charges are brought against sailors who have committed infractions, real or made up, against some portion of the ethos of sailing.  It was a humorous occasion, though, strangely, everyone was found "Not Guilty".

We are presently in Lorain with guests aboard.  From here itâs back to Lake Huron and up to St. Ignace, and from there we begin our exit from the lakes via Erie, PA and then out the St. Lawrence to the sea and home. Until next time,

Cheers,
Captain Beebe-Center

Cheers,
Captain Beebe-Center