Report: The Volvo via the SS JOHN W BROWN
Annapolis, Maryland
by Robin Meigel
April 28th, 2002

Robin belongs to a 1,000 member sailing club called Singles on Sailboats.

She sent us the following email:

Dear JOHN W. BROWN staff:

I sent an email to our intranet describing yesterday's cruise and have received positive feedback. In the event you can use the promotional material I am forwarding my email for your review.

I would like to encourage the foundation to more aggressively market the John W. Brown Volvo cruise four years from now so that more sailors are aware of it. We had a wonderful time.

Hi friends,

I haven't heard feedback on the soggy SOS Volvo cruise yesterday, but two of us viewed the start from the deck of the John W. Brown, anchored just below the Chesapeake Bay Bridge on the eastern side. I'm here to tell you it was great fun and I believe we had a better view than anyone except maybe the ESPN helicopter.

We boarded this World War II liberty ship in Baltimore at 6 in the morning in pouring rain and in some darkness, along with about 450 other persons. Hot coffee and eggs and pastries (breakfast buffet) welcomed us below decks. We explored below decks, stood in line to tour the engine room (a MUST if you do this) and generally got familiar with the ship while they were casting off in the rain.

The 450 persons were a mix of World War II buffs AND sailors. Quite a number of the sailors (like me) had viewed the earlier Volvo starts from the water, had their own boats, but decided to try this variation. The World War II buffs included trippers from all over the country, like the father and son we stood behind in line to board - the father had served on a liberty ship. Talking to these vets was as much fun as talking to fellow sailors. The opposite was true as well; the veterans with no extensive exposure to sailing enjoyed the exra spice presented by the Volvo race and a different kind of tourist sporting rain gear perfect for the elements. It made it easy to spot fellow sailors.

The Last Chance Jazz Band provided fun LIVE music throughout the day. Volunteers in period uniforms strolled around and enjoyed answering questions

As we steamed down the Patapsco in pouring rain you had a feel, just a little bit, of what it meant to sail in a convoy rain or shine. We were tooted in greeting by a Russian flag commercial vessel coming in the opposite direction - Allies again. But we had the option of hanging out below too, leisurely reading the Sunday paper, while we cruised to our destination.

Anchor was set at 10 AM. Buffet lunch was served on time; the first "seating" was at 11:30. Supposedly we were to go in order of the numbers on our tickets, but things were much more relaxed and if you were hungry earlier -- no problem. It was a sandwich buffet - similar to the grub at Spring Training. Except the beer flowed freely (included in the price of the ticket.)

The captain announced when the race boats were motoring by on their way from Annapolis to the start. He announced what VHF frequency the race committee was operating on for those who brought their own handhelds to listen. I marveled at what a magnificent viewing spot we had - one half mile east of the center of the channel, one half mile south of the bridge. Because of our higher vantage point, we could see reasonably far to the north and further to the south than any other boat on the water. We were not pitching and rolling. We could duck down below to warm up and dry out when we felt like it. It was great fun to watch the chase melee of the spectator fleet as they attempted to accompany the racers south. My friend and I took a particular interest in the performance of the UBS boat - we had stumbled on several of the team in a local dive shop renting scuba tanks on Saturday morning. The sailors were slated to join with hired divers in cleaning the hull right up to the last minute.

As we steamed north to return to Locust Point terminal in Baltimore, we enjoyed the Abbot and Costello routines reenacted down below. Then the sun came out and everyone enjoyed a real "cruise ship" feeling - soaking in the rays, looking out over a beautiful day from the deck. It reminded me of one of the final scenes in the movie Titanic when the survivors were out on the deck of a rescue ship drying out in the brilliant sunshine. (The engine room scenes in the movie Titanic were filmed on the John W. Brown.)

It was a relaxing, wonderfully fun day. I would consider doing it again and expect that as the word spreads, more sailors will do this for the next Volvo. I noticed that those who had cruised on the John W. Brown before brought foldable lawn chairs and portable coolers, some brought reading material; one family passed the cruising time playing cards. We disembarked at 5 PM after a full day.

Robin Meigel
s/v "Pacem"
1979 CD 27