Retro October 2012

A decade ago I rode Condor and saw close up the start of the 23rd running of the great! Chesapeake Schooner race.  Covid intervened for a few years and actually changed the format;  now there’s a Bay Race, which begins today, and a virtual race, fund raiser.

In 2012, the starting boat also raised its tugantine sails after all the schooners had passed /checked in at the starting line.

There were too boats many to reprise here, but A. J. Meerwald sailed, as 

did Lady Maryland.  She and Meerwald appeared on this blog way back in 2007 on a foggy summer day.

The Colvin design is evident with Cuchulain. Here’s more on Thomas E. Colvin.

Virginia and Pride of Baltimore II run side by side before the race.

Liberty Clipper and a yawl I’ve never managed to identify pass. I never realized until now that Liberty Clipper was Blount built.

Sultana is a replica of a pre-Revolutionary War  topsail schooner.

Summerwind is no replica;  she’s 1929 Thomaston ME built for a banker just before the October 1929 Crash.

 

Before raising their own sails, the crew of the tugantine shares a libation with the old man of the sea bay.

Then it was tugantine tanbark sails raised and off they scudded to the south end of the Bay.

All photos, WVD, who would love to reprise this race in 2023 . . .