Downrigging 04

Downrigging Weekend featured open houses and public sails on Sultana, the Skipjack Ellsworth and visiting tall ships Pride of Baltimore II, Lady Maryland, and the Kalmar Nyckel. Laura and I launched about 3 miles downwind at Morgan Creek. The winds were around 15 mph plus with gusts. It was a bit of a struggle. The trip home was a fair bit easier. Click here for Downrigging 04, 05, 06, 07, 08 and soon 09

The Sultana Site has good info and links about all of the boats participating in this event. The kayaking turn out was a bit thin, as in Laura and I until we met up with others in Chestertown, perhaps due to the weather. It was certainly "breezy"
	The Kalmar Nyckel at dock.	Laura rounds the bend coming out of Morgan Creek. it would be the last picture I would take until we reached Chestertown.

Working Skipjacks can not be powered so they employ a pusher boat. This little boat that could is all motor and prop.	The Kalmar Nyckel under light sail.	The Kalmar Nyckel as it approaches the dock. Sails are lowered.

Laura as she waits for the boats to set sail, actually we just needed a little R&R after the paddle.	We had the good fortune to bump into paddling friends Steve Brainard and his lovely wife Gale.	me

The Ellsworth	The Pride of Baltimore II	The Sultana

The Mildred Belle	The Lady Maryland	The Lady Laura Belle ahead of the Kalmar Nyckel

With Laura at the point the small group of intrepid paddlers lead the boats out of port.	Awaiting the Kalmar Nyckel's passage to port.	We all watch as she passes.