Team NORSA at the Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race

On Wednesday October 15th, 2008, Team NORSA member Adam flew to Baltimore to take part in the 19th Annual Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race. His brother and fellow NORSA member Mark had been planning on traveling to Galveston, Texas to participate in a different sailing regatta; however due to the recent hurricane his plans changed. Mark came to the docks at Fells Point with Adam and was able to secure a position on the same boat.

One of the largest schooner gatherings on the East Coast, the Schooner Race raises money for charitable organizations involved in conservation of the natural resources of the Chesapeake Bay. The event begins in Baltimore with the parade of sail through the inner harbor and other pre-race festivities through the night. The next morning, the schooners shove off from Fells Point and make their way to the starting line south of the Bay Bridge just off of Annapolis. After jostling for position in a low wind start, the fleet sped off south towards the finish lines (Class B, C: Windmill Point; Class AA, A: Thimble Shoals light).



Much of the race was neck and neck between the two flagships of the Bay, the Pride of Baltimore II and the Virginia. Historically, the older Pride had won every race with the exception of last year, when the sleek Virginia claimed the prize. The rivalry between the boats is fierce and there was much anticipation leading up to this year's race. However, late in the night, the Virginia broke its main gaff, thus allowing the Pride to shoot away and win back the title of fastest schooner on the Bay.

Mark and Adam were crewing on the Martha White, a 68 foot bluenose schooner (Class B) out of Chestertown, Maryland. Owner/Captain Bob Kay and First Mate Cherri Reese primarily use the boat as a traveling venue for their bluegrass band "Schoonertime" but once a year push the boat to its limits in the Schooner Race. Also serving on the boat were James Boicourt, Adam's friend and a former student at North Carolina State University, along with mild mannered Kevin, fiery Parker, calm/collected Peter, feminine mystique Lisa, and irish nobleman Jerry.

The winds were calm for much of the afternoon for the Martha White, but as darkness fell a cold front came through and blew the fleet to Thimble Shoals in an almost exclusively downwind race. Both crew and vessel sailed well, but were hard pressed to match their second place finish of 2007. Considering the 5% handicap placed upon the boat for its performance last year, the crew decided to sail as best as they could without undue stress.

In the early afternoon on Friday the 17th, the Martha White rounded Thimble Shoals Light and leisurely made its way into Portsmouth for the post race festivities. A total of 51 schooner's took part in this year's race including such famous vessels as the Lady Maryland (part of the Living Classrooms foundation in Baltimore), the Woodwind (as seen in the movie "Wedding Crashers"), the Amistad (as seen in the movie "Amistad"), the 177' Gazela out of Philadelphia, PA, and the When and If (formerly General George S. Patton's personal sailboat).

Special thanks go to Captain Bob and First Mate Cherri for their great hospitality, James for providing NORSA with a spot on the vessel, NORSA member Steve Long for serving as Baltimore host, and Travis Dozier for serving as Norfolk/Portsmouth host.

Those of you who would like to get a chance to see the schooner fleet on the Bay, two more opportunities exist this Fall: the Downrigging in Chestertown, MD, and the Cambridge Schooner Rendezvous. Walk along the docks, tour the boats, and don't forget to stop in and say hi to the crew of the Martha White. Come back to the docks late at night after the bars have closed and you'll probably see them on deck with their banjo and fiddle playing an impromptu concert.