Tuesday 23rd: Heading Home

After cleaning up the deck from last night’s thunder storm, we turned north into the Chesapeake Bay at midnight. We motored into headwinds all night and were passing Annapolis at day break.

After breakfast the crew turned to, with the morning wash down. Every morning rain or shine, the off watch crew pulls out the fire hoses and cleans the deck while others use deck brushes and sponges on the rails and deck houses.




....................Then comes the fun work. While underway passing Baltimore, our bosun (Mr. Sawyer) puts the crew to work hanging the last two square sails, the Topgallant and the Course. The Topgallant is the one all the way on top, and the course is the one on the bottom.



...........................We arrived at the mouth of the Sassafras River at 1115 and put the anchor down at 1121. Ships work continued until 1600. The 1st mate, Patrick Flynn, was the first to jump overboard when swim call was shouted. Everyone had been working hard all day, and this is our last night out before returning to Philadelphia.

Tomorrow morning we will get up at 0700 and start heaving the anchor. We will arrive at Penn’s Landing under full sail at 1700.

The crew that left Philadelphia with Gazela only a week ago, are no more. The crew that is returning is better for the experience; getting the ship ready, rigging the ship, hosting over 2,000 guests in just two days, enduring a severe thunder storm, and so many new friendships made.




...................None of us are eager to return just yet, but we have to get back to our normal lives, and also get the ship ready for the next trip.

-Abby Fazio