The 157' tall ship Pride of Baltimore II arrived in Newport Harbor last month to join with her sister vessels from around the world in celebrating Tall Ships Rhode Island. While many of the visiting and local vessels were berthed at the Goat Island compound, Pride was berthed more visibly, in the marina right on America's Cup Avenue, so she recieved a disportionate number of visitors for her dockside tours.

The Pride of Baltimore II is rigged as a square topsail schooner and built to the lines & style of an 1812 era "Baltimore Clipper", a type of vessel built in Baltimore for both commerce and privateering. The design was successful because the vessels sailed well in light breezes, could sail almost directly into the wind, and were generally faster than most of the other designs of the period. While they were successful in commerce, privateering was their forte'. Privateers were commissioned by the newly formed United States to penetrate the British blockades along the east coast, capturing or destroying enemy vessels.

In all, 515 privateers were commissioned during the period, with the most famous being Chasseur, captained Thomas Boyle (born in Marblehead, MA on July 25, 1775), which blockaded the entire British Isles and captured 17 British ships as prizes along the way. When news of Captain Boyle's victories reached Baltimore in 1814, Chasseur & Captain Boyle were named "The Pride of Baltimore", hence the name of the tall ship that bears that name. The success of Captain Boyle's and others so infuriated the British that they laid siege to the port of Baltimore, defended by Fort McHenry on September 13 - 14, 1814. The bombardment was witnessed by a Maryland attorney, Francis Scott Key, who penned the "Star Spangled Banner" later adopted as our National Anthem. The spirit of Chasseur is carried aboard in the ship's launch, which proudly bears her name. Her name also refers to the "Pride" citizens of Baltimore, and Maryland carry for their Captain, crew and vessel.

The Pride of Baltimore II serves as the global goodwill ambassador for the State of Maryland and the port of Baltimore. Constructed by skilled shipwrights on the Baltimore waterfront using timber from around the world, she was officially commissioned on October 23, 1988. She is 157 feet in length, and carries over 10,000 square feet of sail. She sails internationally, having visited both the continents of Asia and Europe, and regularly competes in tall ship races worldwide, winning most.

This summer Pride will visit a number of historic New England ports, participating in tall ship events and defending her title in races. Her schedule includes opportunities for both dockside tours, public sails and overnight passages as "guest crew". After leaving Newport, the Pride briefly visited the port of New London to participate in the Parade of Sail of Tall Ship New London, and then went on to Quincy, MA before making the passage to Halifax for a huge tall ship festival. Through August, she will patrol the Canadian Maritimes and then return to the northeast with visits to Martha's Vineyard and New York City before heading home to Baltimore for participating in major historical events.

She's already sailed 200,000 miles and visited 40 countries, so there's no telling when she's headed back.

For more information, contact the Boston Nautical Heritage Group at 781/344.1749 or Adventure@BostonNautical.com, or visit their website at www.BostonNautical.com . Photos by BNHG. The website for the Pride of Baltimore is http://www.pride2.org/

Buy this Art Print at AllPosters.com