Great Schooner Race
2010 Cruise
Wednesday, October 13 - 1PM:
Guests board and Arabella participates in the Great Schooner Parade at 1700 in the Historic Baltimore Harbor. Following the parade, Arabella guests will be invited to enjoy all events and activities ashore in historic Fell’s Point, including tickets to the coveted All Hands Party at the Latin Room at 1930. Buffet dinner is available at this event or Fell’s Point offers many great dining options.
Thursday, October 14:
Arabella casts off in the morning and sails south down the Chesapeake Bay toward the Bay Bridge. The Start of the race is at 1300, just outside of Annapolis. Arabella will pace the racing fleet for this historic event. We will continue with the fleet until we reach Cambridge in the early evening. Here in the middle Chesapeake, these sheltered waters and bountiful fisheries of America’s greatest estuary have attracted people for centuries. As we cruise past wooded shores, you’ll see crabbers hauling their catch, sailing oyster dredges dragging the shallows for these succulent shellfish, while sea life of all types teem about. Dinner is on us.
Friday, October 15:
In the morning we set sail for Solomon’s Island. This delightful port offers many attractions, including a restored 1934 seafood packing house, but a short cruise upriver shows a very different culture than seen so far. Nestled amongst the heavily treed bluffs along the river are plantations and manor houses that are survivors of the Antebellum South. Many of these are now restored and open to the public. Our visit to this unique area would not be complete, however, without a visit to the Calvert Marine Museum, where we can learn more about the ecology and natural resources of the Bay. Dinner is on your own tonight in town.
Saturday, October 16:
We then direct our course to St. Michael’s where we'll spend the day ashore exploring this historic seaport. The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is a must-see, with a collection of 85 vessels and the restored Hooper Strait Lighthouse on display. Take in St. Michaels bustling Main Street, with many delightful shops, while the narrow streets lined with 17th and 18th century houses make for an enjoyable stroll including the Inn at Perry Cabin that was once home to Laura Ashley, and is in the Orient Express Hotel Group. Be sure to work up an appetite, because tonight you’ll be treated to a Chesapeake tradition - the Crab Feast - where you’ll get to enjoy the local harvest of the sea as it's been prepared for generations (included).
Sunday, October 17:
This morning we'll sail past the wooded shores of Kent Island, where we'll pass under the majestic span of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, which has joined the Eastern and Western shore of the Bay since its construction in 1952. Our final destination is Baltimore, a city steeped in history. From Fort McHenry, home of our national anthem, looming over the Harbor, to the towering spans of the 18th Century warship USS Constellation, to the magnificent Baltimore Aquarium, the largest marine aquarium in the country, Baltimore offers something for everyone. Then we will raise a final toast to fair winds and calm seas at our cocktail party on board…after which you are free to explore Baltimore's many unique restaurants for dinner.
Monday, October 18:
After a farewell breakfast, you’ll still have time to stroll the waterfront for one last look at the tranquil waters of the Chesapeake Bay.
*All stops are subject to the captain’s discretion and may vary due to weather or unforeseen circumstances.
Harbor Magic Hotel
Tel: 410.522.7380 x114
Fax: 410.522.9602
www.harbormagic.com
Please call the reservations line and mention Atlantic Stars to receive the group rate 866-583-4162.
Parking for the Chesapeake Schooner Race
PMI Garage
1530 Thames Street
