Op Sail 2012

[ITMaster]

If you get a chance to join in on the Op Sail 2012 events, it is spectacular. We met the fleet a little after sunrise at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay last Friday and came in with them. Tall Ships from USA, Mexico, Equador, Indonesia; all over. Here are a few pics that I would like to share with you for your enjoyment.

 

[ITMaster]

Here are a few more to share, it is hard to pic the best out of over 500 photos. So many people here to greet the fleet with perfect weather. I feel pretty lucky to have been able to be in this and experience it.

 

[ITMaster]

More photos

Here are a couple more. There were warships from Denmark, Canada, Norway, and the USA. Beautiful anchorage and later that night, simultaneous synchronized identical fireworks display from three different barges from three different locations; a first time event for me. They left today headed to Baltimore up the Bay. Be on the lookout for them and check them out as the pass by your locale.

 

[Bad Obsession]

That is awesome. I wish I had scheduled my vacation to be in the area to see the ships come in. It would be a lot of fun to see.

 

[HukilauMike]

Unfortunately, it seems that New London and Newport got into a dispute over who would host the fleet on the same weekend, so the fleet will be split; some of the ships (including the Eagle) will be in New London, and most of the rest of the big boats will be in Newport. For those of us in Connecticut and Rhode Island, we will have to choose.

 

[ITMaster]

That's too bad Mike, hunger and greed for that almighty dollar it seems like. BadO, maybe you can drive up to Inner City Harbor this weekend and at least see them, not the same as being on the water and moving with them and experiencing their magnitude, but still pretty cool to see them. The Mexicans for me were the ones that stole the show with them being on the spars with their Mariachi music playing and them waving at the crowd. I suspect we saw well over 500 boats in the bay and the harbor to greet them. Truly was incredible for me. BTW, this is to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812.

 

[justsomeguy]

Are any of those Indonesian sailors even looking at that scantily-clad bow ornament?

 

[Deadhead]

Easy Wind is laying comfortably at anchor in the Rhode River. Got here around midday & spent the afternoon relaxing riding out the wind & rain. Heading to Thomas Point Light at daybreak to pick-up the fleet. I have my official OpSail 2012 pennant and intended to sail into Baltimore with the tall ships.

However, looking at the AIS data they are well ahead of schedule. They are farther north due to the high south winds today. They should have been at the Potomac River (Smith Point Light) at 2100 this evening. Most are closer to Solomon's Island and the Mexican Ship is already near the Bay Bridge. I hope to at least catch a straggler if there is one.

On the plus side we enjoyed great winds today as we sailed across the Bay from the Dividing Creek on the Wye East River. Between 20 & 25 kts for the most part. Occasional gusts over 30. We hit hull speed (8.2) consistently and exceeded it surfing down the rollers. We traveled 27.5 nm in 4 hours including motoring out of & into both anchorages. Totally kick ass!

DH

 

[ITMaster]

Bow Ornament?

Are any of those Indonesian sailors even looking at that scantily-clad bow ornament?

Most of them were actually drooling as was I

 

[Todd Smith]

Hey, you can always visit both fleets. That's my plan anyway.

 

[davenlynn]

Was that the Amerigo Vespuicci in one of those shots??? If so, she visited us in San diego a few years back. Lovely vessel.

Reminder: Festival of Sail in San Diego harbor over the Labor Day weekend. Please come visit us.

Dave