Sailing Ships

It may have been on land, but Sail Baltimore's Captain's Ball -- celebrating OpSail 2000 -- brimmed with sights from the sea. Members of the U.S. Navy greeted 450 guests at the door of Baltimore's U.S. Custom House. Inside, partyers mingled with naval attaches and tall ship captains decked out in dress whites under a ceiling painted with scenes of historical sailing ships. So maybe this crew couldn't hear the cries of seagulls and the snap of sails, but the sound of laughter and the swish of taffeta ball gowns more than sufficed.

PHILADELPHIA - Here's what most people see when they visit Market Square Memorial Park in Marcus Hook, a tiny patch of green squeezed between two huge refineries: Jumbo tankers and cargo vessels plying the Delaware River. Washed-up plastic bottles. And lots and lots of marine debris - thick mooring rope, rusted cable, driftwood. But when John McNally, an unemployed electrician and amateur marine archaeologist from nearby Wallingford, looks out at the river, he sees something altogether different: Marauding pirates.

Nepotism hurts Ravens, O'sIt appears that the future of Baltimore's pro sports teams is bleak. The Orioles and Ravens are run by owners who would rather have their sons in charge than skilled general managers.One owner (Peter Angelos) chases away any talent that he may have hired (Pat Gillick, Kevin Malone, Gary Nickels, etc.), and the other (Art Modell) is too stubborn to hire someone to run things. Instead, the Ravens are run by "committee," and the result has been constant losing seasons and not one Super Bowl appearance.

This morning, the fleet in the Whitbread Round the World Race for the Volvo Trophy could be closing on Cape Finisterre in northwestern Spain and hoping for the first hints of the Northeast Trades, the prevailing winds that for centuries sped sailing ships toward the Equator.During the first three days of the nine-leg, 31,600-nautical-mile race, winds have been light and unpredictable, and the lead in the 10-boat fleet has changed often."It's a lottery out there," racing manager Michael Woods said as the Whitbread 60s worked away from Southampton, England, toward the island of Ushant off France.

Capt. John L. Davis, a retired Chesapeake Bay pilot and model builder, died of pneumonia Sunday at his home in Murrells Inlet, S.C. The former Bel Air resident was 89. Captain Davis was born and raised in Elgin, Ill., and after leaving high school joined the Coast Guard during the 1930s and later was in the merchant marine. He served as third mate on the maiden voyage of the Patrick Henry, the first Liberty ship to be constructed in the nation and launched in 1941 at the Bethlehem-Fairfield shipyard in Baltimore.

Ervin J. Cerveny, an engineer, lawyer and homebuilder, died of complications from diabetes Aug. 19 at St. Joseph Medical Center. The longtime Stoneleigh resident was 88. Mr. Cerveny was born in Baltimore and then went with his mother to Czechoslovakia. During the 1920s, the family returned to Baltimore and Mr. Cerveny graduated from Polytechnic Institute. While in high school, Mr. Cerveny began working at the old Glenn L. Martin Co. in Middle River building clipper seaplanes. During World War II, he was the assistant to the factory manager and worked on the design and construction of bombers and PBM and Mariner seaplanes.

While in France, I ate wonderful little vanilla cakes called canneles. I have tried several recipes for these cakes. Can you give me some tips to help them come out like the ones that I remember? History says that more than 200 years ago, canneles were created by nuns who salvaged spilt flour from the holds of sailing ships. The key to getting the crisp, crunchy crust is the beeswax, which is available in health food stores. There shouldn't be any leavening agent in your recipe (i.e., baking powder, baking soda, yeast)

One of the unique joys of the 1976 bicentennial year was the visit of the tall ships to Baltimore. Over the summer, 11 of those graceful vessels sailed up the Chesapeake to moor at the Inner Harbor basin. Tens of thousands of Baltimoreans came to view them. Even at 4 a.m., night owls could be seen admiring those ocean-goers.Happily for those who missed the 1976 event, those moments and memories will soon be repeated. From May 29 to Sept. 9, close to 30 sailing ships from Spain, Brazil, the Netherlands, Uruguay, Portugal, Italy, Germany and England are scheduled to visit the Inner Harbor as part of Baltimore's Operation Sail '92. They range from tall ships to frigates and schooners.

Getting oriented Learn the art of not getting lost at Finding Your Way, an orienteering program Saturday at Patapsco Valley State Park. Map and compass skills will be covered during this program, which will be held in the Avalon area, near Elkridge. The $3 event begins at 9:30 a.m., and pre-registration is required. Call the park at 410-737-0451 to register and for directions to the Avalon area. Check It Out Your Sunday morning run could help local cancer-education initiatives. Hadassah of Greater Baltimore's Check It Out Challenge, a 10K run and 5K run/walk, will take place Sunday at 7:30 a.m. The charity event, which benefits breast, prostate and testicular cancer-education programs, starts on Key Highway and finishes at the Inner Harbor's Rash Field.

Parachutists dropped from the sky with pinpoint accuracy, historic sailing ships fired a cannon salute, and thousands of people recited the 31 words of the Pledge of Allegiance at Fort McHenry last night -- along with countless other patriots around the nation.The event marked the 12th annual nationwide "Pause for the Pledge of Allegiance" -- a Flag Day celebration bolstered this year by the U.S victory in the Persian Gulf."We feel this is important for the nation, not just for today, but year-round," said Richard Patterson, vice president of the National Flag Day Foundation, which sponsored the event.