The Captain's Logs are below.

Read the Crew's Views from John, KC, and Caroline as they reflect on their experiences in Asia.

DATE:	SUNDAY, December 20, 1998
POSITION:	Dockside, Baltimore, MD
ENTERED BY:	Captain Jan Miles

PRIDE II is Home from Nearly a Year of Voyaging to East Asia!

Getting Ready for Homecoming

Thanksgiving 1998

There is something indescribably special about this ship's crew - a crew that has spent innumerable hours, days, and months working and living closely, coming together to celebrate Thanksgiving. Sometimes on holidays there is no work to be done and the crew gets to sleep late, watch videos, play a game of touch football or Frisbee, or help with dinner prep. But more often, there is work to be done on the ship. Even so, there is a feeling of how special the day is, particularly when it falls on the eve of Homecoming from a successful and safe voyage. Having friends and family join in added to the special ambiance that makes Thanksgiving the most loved of American holidays. As we gathered some 30 strong, we were all aware of the many things we had to be thankful for on this Thanksgiving Day.

Homecoming

The weather for Homecoming was crystal clear but windy. And the wind was coming directly on the nose (where we had to go). The Patapsco is a typical Bay river in that it narrows rapidly as you head upstream. With a northwest wind of 20+ knots, sailing to the Inner Harbor meant tacking PRIDE II directly into the wind all the way up an ever narrowing river. Or it meant motoring in with no sails up. The choice to sail in was not hard to make. The crew was rested and they wanting to show off. So sail we did! It was exhilarating and hard work. PRIDE II got up to high speed only once where the river was at it's widest - just inside of the Key Bridge. After that, the tacks came too quickly and the wind became more fluky as we got closer to the city. During the fast leg, the wind strength across the ship touched 30 knots apparent strength. Needless to say, we did not have all sail up. But we did have all four lowers. PRIDE II leaned with the wind to about 15 degrees and slid her way along at almost 9 knots.

After the first of what was to be fourteen tacks executed in two hours, the ship's speed was usually between 3 and 6 knots. (If this does not seem remarkable, remember that PRIDE II weighs in at over 185 long tons and has lots of old fashioned 1812 inefficiency not found on modern sailing vessels.)

As we passed Fort McHenry, we shot the cannons in salute and the regular ensign was changed for a special large ensign.
From there PRIDE II kept tacking and saluting all the way up the northwest branch of the Patapsco, past Fells Point (the origin of Baltimore Clippers), and on into the Inner Harbor.

The number of people we saw along the shore was more than we ever could have anticipated. With them and the escort fleet (including a spouting fireboat) maneuvering around PRIDE II as she zigzagged her way into the Inner Harbor, there was no doubt in anyone's mind that we were being welcomed home royally!

Ceremonies that day were numerous. The crew confessed that evening to being a little shocked at the turn out for the ship and for them. With so much tacking and talking to the public and the press, they all could have used an evening of rest. But that was not to be as they all had friends with plans to take them out for an evening of "Welcome home sailor!"

So, no rest for the heroes. Good thing, I guess, that the weekend schedule for the crew called for alternate days off with late wake-ups on duty days of 0930 on deck before attending to open houses with the adoring public during the rest of the weekend.

Winterizing and More Events!

We also began rigging the Christmas lights for the annual Parade of Lights that occurred on Saturday December 5. And did I somehow forget to mention the fantastic 10th Birthday Bash fundraiser at Planet Hollywood on December 2 that we all attended? And had a great time at? Sorry, but the events just kept rolling that week - it's sort of like a wonderful kaleidoscope in my brain. At any rate, it was a great week.

This coming winter maintenance plan involves an overhaul of PRIDE II's wire rigging. This is the first time this has been done since the ship was originally rigged 10 years ago. This meant all of the masts and spars were coming out of the ship.
While PRIDE II has been winterized before and all the smaller spars have been pulled for maintenance, this is the first time we have pulled both of the large lower masts. One week after the Lighted Boat Parade, the lower masts were pulled with a barge crane by our friends at Martin Imbach. They were laid down near the bulkhead at Egan Marine on Key Highway. By Friday December 18, just one week later, PRIDE II was secured for the winter. She is totally empty of gear, supplies, and crew. The fuel tanks are full - a donation from our friends at Vane Brothers - and all her plumbing has been either disconnected and drained or charged with anti-freeze. The engine room has been left heated, but the ship is otherwise unheated and fully ventilated.

During the week of January 4, the winter maintenance crew will be coming back to begin work on numerous projects. Captain Parrott and I will be completing plans for the coming year, choosing the next crew, overseeing the winter work, and taking some time off. Stay tuned and you will be able to read about our winter work. There will be lots more photos, too. Before long, you will be able to read on our web site about the sailing adventures planned for the 1999 Campaign in the Chesapeake Bay, the Northeast Coast, and the Great Lakes.

In the meantime, I wish all of you and yours a safe and love-filled Christmas, with a happy and hope-filled New Year.

Cheers,
Captain Jan Miles