The Ship Recap of Voyage (from Facebook)

 From Pride of Baltimore's Facebook page, just the facts:

 

Sail handling requiring most of the crew

With PRIDE's lines fast in St. George's, Bermuda, we thought we would give you a little voyage recap. Additional details to be featured in an upcoming Captain's Log. 

Day 1 (Friday, June 4): PRIDE II motored to just off Annapolis & set sail right on the heels of some 50 yachts competing in the Annapolis to Newport Regatta. With the breeze coming right up the bay PRIDE II tacked (nearly a dozen tacks) her way down to the mouth of the Choptank before taking in sail. By that evening the wind was going light & with a deadline to reach Bermuda the d-sails were fired up & the ship motored down the bay (actually passing close by the boat our program coordinator was racing to Newport). 

Day 2 (Saturday, June 5): For logistical reasons & the forecast, a gentleman's agreement was come to between the skippers of 59 North Sailing ICE BEAR & PRIDE II to move the start line offshore in hopes of breaking free of the reversing currents at the mouth of the bay & finding a fresh & favorable breeze. By the end of Saturday, PRIDE II set all sail with the exception of the studding-sail & ringtail & began reaching for Bermuda making 8 knots in 10-11 knots of wind on the beam. 

Day 3 (Sunday, June 6): Light air & motor sailing most of Sunday. By mid-day, the ship struck square sails & outer jibs (not a ripple on the water & had a schedule to keep). 

Day 4 (Monday, June 7): The breeze filled in by the afternoon & the ship began to sail again. "The wind for this leg from near the Virginia beaches south of Cape Henry has been somewhat fickle. Saturday night was a good, relatively smooth, & speedy sail of around 8 knots. All sail including the square top-gallant. Sunday around 0900 the wind fell to near nothing when PRIDE reached the main part of the Gulf Stream. Smooth seas & no wind at all. Had to strike square-sails & headsails as they were blocking the breeze made by motoring. Late afternoon Sunday, having crossed The Stream, we went sailing again with the return of the southerly-southwest breeze of around 5-10 knots. We have been able to sail continuously since at boat speeds of 4-6 knots. " -- Captain Jan Miles 

Day 5 (Tuesday, June 8): Sailing under all plain sail & topgallant. "Life board is at a constant 5-10 degrees of heel. PRIDE heaves & jerks with the impact of 3 foot swells from the southeast. No one aboard is able to stand & walk without jerking around compensating with quickly shifting feet. For those of us less nimble, we have arms out to grab or brace as we move around. Since the rise of water temperature to near 80 degrees Fahrenheit with the Gulf Stream & on toward Bermuda, plus a significant rise in humidity, life down below is a swelter. Notwithstanding, ship’s cook, Ian Bova, has been keeping all aboard well fed. And there be plenty of snacks to reach for if one goes to the designated snack locker. But there is no such thing as a cool drink. No ice to be had. So the coolest a drink can be is around 80 degrees. But anyone can have as much hot drink as one wants." -- Captain Jan Miles. 

Day 6 (Wednesday, June 9): Late on Tuesday after 54 hours of continuous sailing PRIDE II began to motor again. Some 120 miles from Bermuda, the captain was estimating an arrival after sunrise on Thursday. (Note from Nan: and the wind rose and we sailed until dawn the next day)

Day 7 (Thursday, June 10): PRIDE II arrives in Bermuda 0700 EDT/0800 Bermuda Time.