The Best of 2012: Pride of Baltimore II visits Rockland on Saturday.

Pride of Baltimore II

The Pride of Baltimore II slipped into Rockland harbor on Saturday.  After announging her arrival with a two canon salute to the Navy's USS San Antonio she tied up at Windjammer Wharf.  She is returning from the 2012 Lunenburg Wooden Boat Reunion in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.
The Pride of Baltimore II was built as replica of a Baltimore Clipper.  These boats were developed to be used as privateers against the British during the War of 1812.  When the British had our major ports blockaded they were built to run the blockade.  They were very fast, able vessels and capable of out maneuvering and out running the larger British ships.

"Pride of Baltimore II
Whether making harbor in a new port of call half way around the world or returning home to her berth in the Inner Harbor, Pride of Baltimore II grabs attention! Whether blasting off her shipboard cannons or skimming majestically over the waves with all sails aloft, Pride II makes a proud statement about her sponsors and her colorful maritime history. As the Goodwill Ambassador of the State of Maryland and the Port of Baltimore, Pride II represents the business, tourism, and educational interests of the state with unmistakable flair and panache.

Pride of Baltimore II was commissioned in 1988 as a sailing memorial to her immediate predecessor, the original Pride of Baltimore, which was tragically sunk by a white squall off Puerto Rico in 1986, taking her captain and three crew members down with her. Both ships were built in the Inner Harbor as reproductions of 1812-era topsail schooners, the type of vessels, called Baltimore Clippers, that helped America win the War of 1812 and finally secure its freedom.

Specifications of Pride of Baltimore II

Tonnage: 185.5 long tons
Overall Length: 157' (47.85 m)
Length on Deck: 96'6" (29.42 m)
Beam: 26' (7.93 m)
Draft: 12'4" (3.76 m)
Launched: April 30, 1988
Commissioned: October 23, 1988
Naval Architect: Thomas C. Gillmer
Master Builder: G. Peter Boudreau

Since her commissioning, Pride II has sailed nearly 200,000 miles, and visited over 200 ports in 40 countries in North, South, and Central America, Europe, and Asia. In 1998 she undertook her first voyage to Asia with port calls in China, Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan. In 2000 she made her fourth trip to Europe capturing First Place in her Class in a Transatlantic Tall Ship race. With her sharply raked masts, her abundance of sail, and her sleek profile, Pride of Baltimore II captures the imagination and makes friends for Baltimore and Maryland wherever she goes. She is indeed a memorable Goodwill Ambassador." [http://www.pride2.org/history/index.php]

The Pride of Baltimore will be at Maine Maritime Museum Saturday and Sunday August 10 and 11.  She will be open to the public for tours from 10AM to 1PM each day.  For information or directions to the Maine Maritime Museum in Bath go to http://www.mainemaritimemuseum.org/events/pride-baltimore-ii/.