Ship's Log

Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race 2008

http://www.schoonerrace.org

Even in the cold, miserable, damp, windy weather present at the 19^th Annual Great Chesapeake Bay Shooner Race the appearance of Blackbeards Crew was a huge success!!!!

Blackbeards Crew was a hit.  On the Education front Cap’n Pern demonstrated Seamanship and Navigation,  Black Ross and Jesse talked to visitors about the history of  pirates.  Miss Morgan showed students how to spin Yarn, Pyrate Pete, Myla and Hatchet Meg escorted Students to the some of the ships for tours.  There were over 50 kids from eight local schools that attended.

Joe and Allison Elder of Skipjack Nauticals has opened at their new location on the water front.  The new store is full of new antiques and is now the official retail outlet for the Schooner Virginia merchandise.  Joe and Allison want to carry Blackbeards Crew and the Colonial Seaport Foundations merchandise as well.  Black Ross and Lady Olive held down the quarterdeck at Skipjack Nauticals.

All of you that have been to the Hampton Blackbeard Festival may remember a ship known as the Bonnie Rover.  She has been a character vessel every year and participated in the sea battles for most of the years.  I spent a lot of time talking to the Captains Mark and Ray,   The Bonnie Rover has been registered in every Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race except for one.  For the past five years they have not been able to race because they haven’t had crew.  Next year is the 20^th Anniversary of GCBSR and Mark and Ray want to bring the Bonnie Rover down the bay in the Race again.  She won the first year of the race and can do it again with the right crew.  That’s where we come in.  I was able to secure 12 positions aboard the Bonnie Rover for next years Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race. 

In the first Quarter of 2009 we will be having our monthly meeting down in Norfolk where we will be able to go on visits to the Bonnie Rover during the meeting.  In the spring we will be conducting sail training aboard the Bonnie Rover.  Blackbeards Crew members will be able to learn to sail the Bonnie Rover under controlled sailing conditions in Hampton Roads.  During the Blackbeard Festival we will then not only be aboard for the sea battle but everyone will have had an opportunity to learn the ropes and can become better sailors on a rig that is similar to the rig aboard the Luna.  If you participate in the sail training you must sign up for the Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race.

I got to know Captain Rob of the Schooner Windfall from Ocracoke.  One of his crew members Phillip Howard, the Great Great Great Great Grandson of William Howard; (everyone know who that is?)  was intrigued by our display and appearance and are looking forward to working with us during the upcoming Battle of Ocracoke.

So get your Pyrate On for 2009 cause it’s gonna be a good year.