Bye Bye Baltimore

As a part of saying their farewells to Baltimore’s Inner Harbour the Volvo Ocean Race fleet will do a quick lap under mainsail at 1145 local time, following the Pride of Baltimore schooner as they go, before raising their headsails and heading for Fort McHenry and Annapolis, some 35 miles to the south.

Today will mark the end of a three week stay in Baltimore, USA, for the Volvo Ocean Race fleet, and the dawn of a new lifestyle. Baltimore’s eclectic mix of personalities, entertainments and high-octane existence will be swapped for the relative calm found roughly 35 miles south in the leafy avenues of Annapolis.

Glenn BOURKE, CEO of the Volvo Ocean Race, said, “Baltimore has been absolutely delightful. We have had terrific facilities, unbelievable crowds. The interest from the media has been great and the weather couldn’t have been better.”

“Baltimore has a big tick in the box for their performance here. They couldn’t have done better and it would be an easy decision to come back again.”

Having travelled across the Chesapeake Bay this afternoon the fleet will regroup on the approach to Annapolis at roughly 1530 local time. Once they have negotiated a crab pot minefield the yachts will parade into the harbour behind the 41 foot white US Coast Guard Cutter in the order of finish from the In Port Race last Saturday.

Here, after travelling through the freshly dredged channels of the harbour, the yachts will take up residence along the docks. Then, on Sunday, the starter’s gun will fire and the leg six sprint, 380 miles to New York, will begin. 

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