Souls at Sea was a season highlight for the Universal Sailing Club
Founded in 2001 by Black sailors from the Baltimore-Washington-Annapolis region, Universal Sailing Club (USC) continues to build a community of new and experienced sailors on the Chesapeake Bay and beyond. From May through November, members sail together as captains and crew aboard member-owned boats.
The club's annual Souls at Sea event, held this year in collaboration with Jill Ferris, vice president of education at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum (CBMM), remains one of the club’s most meaningful and cherished traditions. The Souls at Sea Remembrance Ceremony was founded by USC member Regina Hartfield.
On August 22, despite dark clouds and steady rain, attendees brought warmth and light to CBMM’s Van Lennep Auditorium, overlooking Fogg’s Cove and the Miles River in St. Michaels, MD. Family and friends traveled from near and far to honor those lost at sea, including those who chose death over capture. The intimate, inspiring, and powerful remembrance brought together history, culture, spirituality, and fellowship in a distinctive experience both on land and at the water’s edge.
This annual land-and-water ceremony and libation honored the countless Africans who died during the Middle Passage after enduring brutal and inhumane conditions at sea. The afternoon began with the sounds and movement of the Motherland, led by African Legacy Cultural Arts drummers and dancers. Participants paid tribute to their lost ancestors along the way, remembered departed USC captains Ron Harris and Bill Reddick, and celebrated the legacy of Ann Cobb, founder of the Middle Passage Ceremonies and Port Markers Project. Distinguished guest artist Bob Dilworth, whose sail-based prints examine African Americans’ connection to water, also attended.
Because of inclement weather, the on-water tribute was moved to the water’s edge, where Baba Ifasola officiated an inspirational libation. This part of the ceremony created space for reflection and fellowship, honoring shared history and heritage with USC and the surrounding community. By 4 p.m., the sun emerged, and the day felt like a revelation. The event ended with dinner, dancing under the sky, and celebration.
Learn more about USC at universalsailingclub.org.
Read more about this year's event at CBMM.
By Dr. Deborah Jackson-English
