Woxbox
11-06-2006, 11:08 PM
Just got back from a weekend cruise up the Chester River to the annual Chestertown downrigging festival - a casual get together of Chesapeake Bay area tall & traditional boats. The Chesapeake is nicest in the fall - even November. Too many folks quite sailing too early. Some photographic proof:
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f92/Woxbox/Downrigging2006.jpg
From the left, the Pride of Baltimore II is rafted behind the pilot schooner Virginia. The rake of the Pride's masts looks even more dramatic with the juxtaposition - ready to fall overboard again? Next the schooner Sultana, a really sweet replica - and done up right below decks, too. And then the Kalmar Nyckel, whose masts each has it's own angle, as was the custom in the early 17th century. The Kalmar crew was actually donwrigging through the weekend, too. (I normally help out, but was truant.)
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f92/Woxbox/MildredBelle.jpg
And here's the buy boat the Mildred Belle, overtaking us on her way home. She just looks right, making about 7 knots on her way north off Kent Island.
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f92/Woxbox/ChesterRiver11-6-06.jpg
And here's a bit of atmosphere, the subtle charms of the Chesapeake just before the sun crawls up above the trees on an early November morning. A bit later we counted 9 bald eagles. The bay isn't completely dead!
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f92/Woxbox/Downrigging2006.jpg
From the left, the Pride of Baltimore II is rafted behind the pilot schooner Virginia. The rake of the Pride's masts looks even more dramatic with the juxtaposition - ready to fall overboard again? Next the schooner Sultana, a really sweet replica - and done up right below decks, too. And then the Kalmar Nyckel, whose masts each has it's own angle, as was the custom in the early 17th century. The Kalmar crew was actually donwrigging through the weekend, too. (I normally help out, but was truant.)
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f92/Woxbox/MildredBelle.jpg
And here's the buy boat the Mildred Belle, overtaking us on her way home. She just looks right, making about 7 knots on her way north off Kent Island.
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f92/Woxbox/ChesterRiver11-6-06.jpg
And here's a bit of atmosphere, the subtle charms of the Chesapeake just before the sun crawls up above the trees on an early November morning. A bit later we counted 9 bald eagles. The bay isn't completely dead!