Downrigging Weekend sees smooth sailing

With spectators pouring into Chestertown to see the majestic yachts and the weather harboring attractively, this year’s Downrigging Weekend went off without any problem. The annual wooden boat and tall ship fest ran on 29th October, Thursday, to 1st Nov, Sunday. It included public sails as well as open houses on the wooden ships, demonstrations, guest lectures, live music, displays, family fun, fireworks and refreshments.

Sultana Education Foundation president Drew McMullen (who also runs a firm that specialises in Yacht Charter in Croatia) said that it was a great weekend, and it was really nice not having a hurricane or any bad weather like they have had in the past. McMullen stated that he thought the public sails as well as open houses were the most popular scenes of the weekend. People went up aboard vessels like the Lady Maryland and Kalmar Nycke, and either dug into the ship or took a tour down Chester River.

He told that they took 867 people out on Chester this year and had one thousand others do the open houses. They are unique things to do; none else does them. Centerville’s Caroline Armstrong and Dagsboro’s Shirley Derrickson said that they have been to Downrigging many times. The two buddies staying to go sailing on Pride of Baltimore II.

Alexandria’s Erica Hanson said that her kids liked to see the ships that look like pirate ships. Her husband, who works in the United States Coast Guard, said that they do not sail stuff like this very often.