SSV Elissa
A tall ship of the Western Ocean, posting exclusive accounts of her passages for subscribers who care to follow the voyage. Letters answered by return post.
- 7
- Dispatches Posted
- 6
- Days at Sea
Other figures, by the bosun's reckoning and no underwriter's: 14 knots logged at peak speed, 312 fathoms of rigging handled.
Voyage Chart
Plotting the voyage chart…
Leaving Chesapeake City
29 June 2026
The current was moving so fast I could hear it, a sign as I stumbled to the shore heads that we would not be leaving right away. Just as predicted, the ferocious current in the C&D canal was pushing us back against the dock, and with no good way to…
Read the Full EntrySlow up New Jersey
29 June 2026
Today started with a beautiful trip up into the rig to unfurl the sails as the sun was rising, a special treat. We had time to kill so we are slowly making our way one knot at a time up the New Jersey…
Read the Full EntryChesapeake City
27 June 2026
The day started with an unfamiliar sound - the steady hum of vehicles passing through the bridge nearby. This morning, mercifully, was a wet one; light rain had covered the ship in a cooling blanket of…
Read the Full EntryA day of tacking
25 June 2026
Today was our first real test of the "day sail" mode we will be entering in NYC. We also sailed on and off the anchor, a huge accomplishment that the Elissa really hadn't done before. Because we have some time between now and our next mooring, we…
Read the Full EntryChesapeake Swim Call
25 June 2026
Much like yesterday, we sailed off the anchor this morning - the fact that this is getting routine is a testament to the ship and the crew. No more tacking chaos was had, and instead we sailed further up into chesapeake bay, enjoying not using the…
Read the Full EntryArrival in Annapolis
23 June 2026
The departure from Cambridge went off without a hitch, and after a day of motoring I merged into a cloudy and wet Tuesday morning (side not: due to the routine underway, one of the best ways to determine the day of the week is being conscious of our…
Read the Full EntryUp The Delaware Canal
23 June 2026
Ginger pancakes and a non-ocean transit were in my future.
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