Peter Briggs “Tortuga” Table Captain
We are sadden to announce the passing of one of the founding Brothers of our Table, Tom “El Calbucano” Smith in August of 2023.
We have a tentative date for the 2024 Raftarancho. It will begin on Thursday June 20th thru Saturday June 22nd.
The Chesapeake Bay Table is looking to Host the 2026 Table Captains meeting and associated ZAF In June of that year to coincide with the Sail250 celebration of the 250th year of the United States. This will also coincide with Norfolk’s Harborfest. More Details will be coming out later this year.
Dear Brothers of the Coast – Chesapeake Bay Table,
My name is Mike Provost, and I serve as the Executive Director of the Vessel Disposal & Reuse Foundation (VDRF); a Virginia-based nonprofit I founded, which is dedicated to removing Abandoned, Derelict, and At-Risk Vessels (ADVs) from our waterways and promoting sustainable reuse of marine materials.
I’m also the founder of the Broad Bay Boat Club, which includes 20 active members here in Virginia Beach, and I hold a U.S. Coast Guard 100-ton Master’s License. Before founding VDRF, I spent 21 years in Naval Special Warfare as a Special Warfare Combat Crewman (SWCC), operating and commanding high-speed craft around the world.
During a recent voyage, I had the pleasure of meeting Captain Scott and Michele Ripley, who were underway aboard Orza. They generously supported VDRF last year and spoke highly of the maritime community surrounding the Chesapeake Bay. It was through them that I learned of the Brotherhood of the Coast and your Chesapeake Bay Table.
Our mission at VDRF reflects the same seamanship, camaraderie, and respect for the sea that the Brotherhood embodies. To date, we’ve removed over 93 abandoned vessels and more than 860,000 pounds of debris from Virginia’s waterways. All without federal income tax dollars, relying instead on private donations and maritime partnerships.
I would be honored to meet with your Table to share a brief presentation on our work and explore how we might collaborate. Whether through advocacy, donations, or participation in upcoming Sunk Ship Gala III on 1/10/2026 at the Gala 417 in Virginia Beach.
Please let me know if there’s an upcoming meeting or gathering where I might join you for a short presentation. This free mini-documentary shares some of my journey. I’d be glad to bring visuals from recent removals and highlight ways the Brotherhood could help champion this cause across our coastal community.
Thank you for your time and for upholding the great maritime traditions we all share.
Fair winds and following seas,
-Mike Provost
757.985.5248