DNA May Prove the Legend of the Wild Ponies of Assateague Island & the Spanish Galleon

Two herds of wild ponies have lived for hundreds of years on Assateague Island, a 37-mile-long Atlantic barrier island that crosses the border between the states of Virginia and Maryland. The Virginia side of the island is just east of … Continue reading

Pinnace Virginia, Maine’s First Ship, Launched in Kennebec River

Twenty-seven years ago, a plan was conceived to reconstruct Maine’s first ship, Virginia, built by in 1607 by settlers of the Popham Colony at the mouth of the Kennebec River. The original 51′ pinnace was the first English ocean-going ship … Continue reading

World’s Largest Oyster Restoration Project Completed on Piankatank River

We recently posted about the dire conditions of Texas and Gulf Coast oyster beds that have been devastated by floods, droughts, and hurricanes. In contrast, here is good news about oyster bed restoration in the Chesapeake Bay. The Virginia Mercury … Continue reading

Class A Shines in the 2013 Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race

Congratulations to all the racers in this year’s Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race.  In last year’s race,  Woodwind, Heron and Prom Queen, the top three Class A schooners (from 40′ to less than 50′) all beat the elapsed and corrected time of the … Continue reading

Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race 2013

The Parade of Sail in the 2013 Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race starts in a few minutes from Canton, MD in Baltimore harbor.  The race begins tomorrow at 1330 just south of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge near Annapolis and ends 127 nautical miles … Continue reading

Kings Point’s Summerwind Wins Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race Followed by Pride II and Virginia

In the 22nd Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race, thirty nine schooner raced from 127 nautical miles down the Chesapeake Bay from Baltimore, Maryland to Portsmouth, Virginia.  Summerwind, the 100′ 1929 John Alden designed schooner owned by the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, … Continue reading