Star Spangled Sail - Departure

Hi, I headed back to Baltimore on Tuesday, June 19 for the departure of the tall ships and gray hulls (modern naval ships).  I hoped to see some vessels I had not seen the previous Wednesday, but was only moderately successful.

I met up with friends Rodney Peterson and Bill Kalkman at Canton Park, where Ruthe and I watched the ship's arrival.  The weather was cloudy.  While the Norwegian Frigate, Thor Heyerdahl, was photographed arriving,

the German Frigate, Hessen, was new to me.

I was not pleased with the background for the departing ships so when Rodney suggested the photography would be better at Fort Armistead Park we decided to move there.  The Danish Frigate, Esbern Snare, has just passed under the Key Bridge.

Two Canadian Coastal Patrol vessels, the Moncton,

and the Goose Bay, also new to me, were up next.  The Goose Bay is about to pass the abandoned Fort Carroll.

The Canadian Frigate Iroquois was the final grey hull of the day.

Now it was time for some tall ships.  Also seen on arrival was the Brazilian Cisne Branco.  It was great to see her carrying some sail.

The Indonesian ship Dewaruci was new to me.

The Pride of Baltimore had all of her sails when I photographed her on the upstream side of the Key Bridge.

Ecuador's Guayas followed next.  With the exception of the Pride, this was the final tall ship I saw before I left.

Commercial shipping included an empty auto carrier departing, and

and empty bulk carrier arriving.

Finally, the Pride of Baltimore headed out under power.

I really enjoyed the Star Spangled Sail and hope you enjoyed the photos.

Star Spangled Sail - Air Show

Hi, As part of Star Spangled Sail air shows in Baltimore were held on June 16 and June 17.  Friend Jim Beck and I viewed the air show on June 16 from Fort McHenry.  Our passes were good until 10:00 AM, even though the show would not begin until 1:30 PM, so we arrived about 9:30 AM.  We occupied ourselved by walking around the grounds and checking out the food and merchant areas.

On the second of our 2 walks we wandered down to the water taxi dock.  The boat pictured below had just unloaded a group and was leaving the dock.

Shortly after the boat above departed 2 of these Navy training patrol craft headed out.

The airshow began with a Navy Seal demonstration of a water borne extraction.  The Zodiac carries the extraction team and their prisoner(s) out from land and runs right up on the transom of the larger boat.  As soon as the people are transferred to the larger boat and the Zodiac is secured the larger boat takes off.

The smaller boat provides inshore covering fire, if necessary, and leaves after the larger boat.

Then aircraft began to fly.  First up was a Sea Dragon helicopter.

Next, in quick succession, were 3 training planes: an elementary trainer,

a more advanced trainer for instrument flight rules and multi engine flight, and finally

a jet trainer.

Next up was an GRumman E-2 Airborne Warning and Control Ship aircraft.  It made 2 passes.

An F-18E made multiple passes demonstrating its amazing maneuverability and other capabilities.  Here it is flying at about a 45 degree angle to the ground.

The Coast Guard provided a Bell Ranger (civilian name) with a team that demonstrated water rescue.

And then, at last, it was time for the Blue Angels.  The first of their aircraft to appear was their support C-130.  This is a 1951 design that is still in daily use by the armed forces.

It too has amazing climbing capabilities.

After a number of passes by C-130 the Blue Angels performed their show.  They too use the f-18E.  Presented below are a few of the many photos I took during their performance.

This is the first air show I have been to since the late 1950s and I am glad I had the opportunity.  I hope you enjoy the photos as much as I enjoyed attending the show and taking them.

Star Spangled Sail - The Arrival

Hi, My wife, Ruthe, and I went to Canton Park, in Baltimore on Wednesday, June 13 to view and photograph the arrival of the modern naval vessels and tall ships that would be open to the public over the weekend in commemoration of the beginning of the War of 1812.

First up was the Canadian Destroyer Iroquois.

With all the naval vessels arriving the harbor was alive with tugs.

Next was the Canadian Frigate Ville de Quebec.

Our first tall ship was the Gazella out of Philadelphia.

Those ships with guns fired a 21 gun salute as they approached Fort McHenry.  The puffs of gun smoke are from the Norwegian Frigate Thor Heyerdahl.

About a half hour later the Guided Missle Destroyer U. S. S. Donald Cook made port.

Next up was the Danish Frigate Esbern Snare.

One of the larger ships was the British ship Argus.  This was a a Primary Casualty Recovery Vessel, with a large helipad aft and a hospital on board.

After a 2 hour hiatus the U. S. S. San Antonio arrived.  This ship is classified as an Amphibious Transport Dock.

The final warship of the day was the U. S. S. Fort McHenry, a Landing Ship Dock.

She was lead into the harbor by a fire boat.

For a brief moment the Fort McHenry posed with the fire boat and the Pride of Baltimore.

The pride of Baltimore led the way past Fort Mchenry.

Two more tall ships arrived before we left.  First was Cisne Branco flying the flag of Brazil.

Next was Guayas from Ecuador.  Note the people on the yard arms.

This was my first opportunity to view tall ships and I really enjoyed it. I hope you enjoy the photos.