July 1, 2026 Sail 250 - The Airshow

 Wednesday July 1, 2026   Celebrating Sail 250 with an Airshow

Sail 250 also included fly overs.  The US Navy Blue Angels, but also the British Royal Red Arrows and France's Patrouille de France.  We got 4 shows.  Practices on Thursday and Friday and then the main shows on Saturday and Sunday.   The official flyover "box" was just off Ft. McHenry, so easily visible from our boat.  Then multiple direct fly overs of the boat with their deaf defying noise as they circled around to regroup. Gave us a good opportunity for some close-up pictures.   Airshow also included other aircraft.  AirForce F-16 Viper, Osprey, assorted helicopters - USCG, MD State Troopers, Baltimore PD, etc.  Both Saturday and Sunday had spotty rain and low lying clouds which had us questioning if they would be able to fly but for the most part conditions turned out okay.   British team had to cut their routine a bit short on Sunday but humorously radioed "they apologize for bringing typical British weather with them".   Visiting aircraft used red, white and blue colored smoke in their display.  A nice touch. The Blue Angels would fly last each day.  To my eye they had the tightest formations flying much closer to each other.   We've seen their performance numerous times - Off NAS JAX when we lived in Florida, in Annapolis for Naval Academy Graduation, Solomons off NAS Patuxent River, and now here in Baltimore.   It never fails to awe and inspire.

June 30, 2026 Sail 250 - The Tall Ships

 Tuesday June 30, 2026   Celebrating Sail 250 - The Ships

Sail 250 was a great success here despite some questionable weather on Saturday and Sunday for the flyovers.  Great collection of tall sailing ships from a variety of countries.   We got to see the ones docked around Fells Point and the Inner Harbor.  More ships were docked on the far side of the harbor, so we weren't able to see them all up close. Hooked up on Friday with another Looper couple we know.  We first met Kathleen and Michael from Apres Sail when doing the loop in 2019.  Then ran across each other again on the western Erie canal two years ago.  Crazy the way and places you meet cruising friends. Enjoyed exploring a few ships and a nice lunch with them. Hopefully our paths will cross again.  Interesting tall ship story - While sailing the Mediterranean in 1962, the aircraft carrier USS Independence flashed a ship with the light signal asking: "Who are you?" The response: "Training ship Amerigo Vespucci, Italian Navy." The Independence replied: "You are the most beautiful ship in the world." In 2022, the Amerigo Vespucci sailed by the American aircraft carrier USS George H. W. Bush, which saluted the ship and commented: "You are still, after 60 years, the most beautiful ship in the world."  

Amerigo Vespucci under sail. And no, I did not take this picture

Another interesting ship story.   Prior to WWII Germany built 4 large steel sailing ships.  After the war they were used for reparations.  All 4 of these vessels were together here. They are the USCG Cutter Eagle, Romania's Mircea, Portugal's Sagres and Germany's Gorch Fock.    After visiting NYC for the 4th, they will be holding a race to Boston which is the final stop in this tour.  Canada didn't send a sailing ship but sent their huge AOPV vessel  HMCS Willian Hall.  AOPV - Arctic Offshore Patrol Vessel  - a huge icebreaker based out of Halifax, NS.  Great tour through the ship including the bridge. 

USCG Cutter EAGLE

NMS MERCIA

NRP SAGRES

GORCH FOCK

AOPV  WILLIAM HALL

Climbed a lot of stairs to get up to the huge bridge of the William Hall

Amazing view from the bridge.  You are up HIGH. 

Ships alongside one of the inner harbor piers

Some of the local ships like The Pride of Baltimore II took people on sailing cruises. 
This is a replica of a famous Baltimore clipper ship.
Renowned for their fast and agile abilities as a privateer. 

On the Eagle (and those 3 other sister ships) there are 3 of these wheels
 connected together and operated by 6 sailors to quickly turn the rudder
 during close quarter maneuvers.

 The EAGLE was getting plenty of visitors tied to a prime location in the inner harbor

From the marina we were able to watch the departure of ships headed
to their next stop in NYC.  The Peruvian ship BAP UNION was awesome. 
Loudly playing some festive music while fearless sailors manned the yards.
Perfect way to end the tall ships visiting Baltimore.

June 26, 2026 We Begin our Visit to Baltimore (or Hey Hon, we're in Bal-more!)

 Friday June 26, 2026   Home and back, Touring Ft. McHenry, and an MTOA Gathering

We've had the boat docked here at Anchorage Marina in Baltimore for a little over two weeks into our month-long stay.  Been the perfect location so far.  Walking distance to Canton, Fells Point and even the Inner Harbor.  Grocery, hardware store and plenty of restaurants nearby.    Enterprise rental car within walking distance, so able to reserve a car to head home for a few days.   Three doctor appointments in one day.  Thankfully, none of them for anything serious.   Time to get a tune-up on my hearing aids. Dentist visits for both of us - checkup and cleaning. Then a follow up with Orthopedist for my thumb. Surgery has all healed up but still working on getting that opposable thumb to fully flex.  Extra arthritis buildup on the joint is making it a harder process, but I keep working on therapy. Great to get together with some of the neighbors and our pickleball group. Even able to get in a few games with them one morning before heading back to Baltimore.

Some of our pickleball buddies.  Gonna miss getting that exercise while away.

Since we still had the rental car a few extra days after our return we decided to play tourist and visit Ft. McHenry.  Only seemed fitting during this 250 celebration.  The bombardment of the fort during the War of 1812 is what led Francis Scott Key to write the Star Spangled Banner - our national anthem.   During WWII the property was a major army hospital base covered with over 100 buildings. Since then they've all been removed and it's now a large open national park and monument with an informative visitor center, and good interpretive signs around the fort with great open vistas to where the battle occurred. While we visited a summer program for youths was underway.  A week long program for kids of all ages interested in recreating a fife and drum parade.  In 1948 President Harry Truman issued a proclamation that a 15 star flag like the one flown during the battle should be flown 24 hours a day 365 days a year at the fort.   If conditions are right they fly a full size 30' x 42' replica.   Most times, like the day of our visit when the wind was blowing, they fly a smaller flag.  They utilize 4 different sizes based on the actual conditions.   On the way back we stopped at Ministry of Brewing.  Very memorable  brewery from our last visit as it's in a repurposed historic church.  Good selection of assorted styles of beers were much needed refreshments after a day in the sun and wind.

Flagpole inside the fort flying one of the smaller flags.
Surrounded by barracks, officer quarters and gunpowder magazines.

View out to where the British ships were lined up some 2 miles away.
Outside the 1-1/2 miles range of the fort's cannons.  While the fort was repeatedly
 hit, only one British ship was hit despite roughly 23 hours of firing by both sides

Big guns installed during Civil War as part of a fort expansion 

Youts on the march.  Surprisingly large group - this is just a portion of them
 with the fife and drum brigade following behind

The fife and drum core making their way onto the parade grounds.

Much needed refreshment after a day walking the fort

One of the big impetuses for coming to Baltimore was a gathering of MTOA members for the Sail 250 celebration here.  MTOA is the Marine Trawler Owners Association of which we're members.  An active association with local area groups that hold get togethers.  Some social, some technical, plus a big annual rendezvous. Their forum activity tends to be more technical, problem solving, etc.  Good group. We had over 30 boats arrive for a pot luck dinner on Friday.   Ran into friends Liz and Steve who were slipmates at Ess-Kay Marina last year on the Erie canal before we started the Down East Cruise.   She's a volunteer officer in the club.   Just sold their 1984 41' Roughwater  Shingebiss and were driving back to Florida so stopped in for the festivities.  They've had the boat a long time and seemed melancholy about the sale.  Certainly confirms again, the day you sell is NOT necessarily one of the 2 best days of boat ownership for some people. 

The full "Strawberry Moon" shines down on As You Wish
 in her July 4th celebratory decorations.

June 16, 2026 Made it to Baltimore

 Tuesday  June 16, 2026  Solomons to Baltimore    74 miles and  8.2 hours

Strange weather patterns with hot air, cool air, light winds, strong winds, SW winds then NE winds.  Sunday and Monday turned out to not be good travel days, so we stayed an extra day at Solomons.  Gave us a chance to meet Peter and Kelly on MisKelculation.  Loopers who will soon be crossing their wake at the Statue of Liberty.  

New friends Peter and Kelly as we head to the SIYC bar for refreshments

Small Craft advisory in effect for Sunday and Monday.  Winds 20 kts gusting to 30.  Average wave heights of 2-3 feet (which means occasional 4-5 footers).  Things were settling down by Tuesday morning as we left Solomons and passed Calvert Cliffs - famous for finding ancient megalodon sharks teeth.   A bit choppy with some winds in the morning, but wind would be dying down and switching direction during the day allowing the waves to drop off.  Started the day on the flybridge but found the chop and wind driven spray and 70 degree temperature a bit much, so took solace in the pilothouse for a few hours until things calmed down about noon.   

Calvert Cliffs

Rounding Cove Point Lighthouse as we make our way out onto the bay

Big waters continue in play.  We're traveling along the main shipping lane. Pass a couple southbound freighters and an anchoring area for inbound cargo ships.  Normally enjoy seeing the iconic Thomas Point Lighthouse around the Annapolis area but a bit too far off today.    The bay starts narrowing down and we're able to see land on either side.  Continues to narrow until we're passing under the double spans of the Bay Bridge.   

Southbound bulk carrier

Another bulk carrier on the move.

Headed for the main opening of the Bay Bridge

Gentle arching of the western side of the bridges

In between the two spans looking to the eastern shore

Sandy Point Shoal Lighthouse comes into view and then we're passing the Baltimore Harbor Lighthouse as we make the turn to port and headed up the Patapsco River.  Both these lighthouses are now privately owned.   At over 125 years old and only accessible by water, it's truly a labor of love to try and keep them in decent condition. Cross by the remnants of the old Francis Scott Key Bridge which was destroyed in 2024 when a cargo ship hit it. Terrible tragedy with six construction workers killed. Thankfully they got the road closed in time to prevent any civilian fatalities. Seems like slow progress on the replacement which is now scheduled for completion in 2030. 

Sandy Point Shoals Lighthouse

Baltimore Harbor Lighthouse

A part of the original Key Bridge still awaiting demolition

Fort McHenry lies ahead splitting the river.   Civil War military prison but more famous as the birthplace of the US National Anthem, "The Star Spangled Banner", which was inspired by the fort's defense of Baltimore against the British during the War of 1812.  We go slightly to starboard and follow the branch towards downtown and find the outer harbor marinas at Canton and Fells Point.  A quick call on the VHF and we contact Wayne the dockmaster at Anchorage Marina.  We'll be in slip B-44.  A nice 60' slip with floating full length finger piers on both sides. SWEET.  Ease As You Wish stern in without drama. We'll be tied up here for a month.  Time to give the boat a much needed deep cleaning.   We'll get a rental car for a quick trip home for a few doctor appointments then return in time for the America 250 Tall Ship and Blue Angel Flyovers scheduled for the following weekend.  

Ft McHenry straight ahead with the Baltimore skyline in the background

Sun setting across the marina and behind Baltimore on our first evening here

Journey for June 16, 2026