Pride of Baltimore II Returns Home Tomorrow

From Pride of Baltimore:

BALTIMORE, MD – After four months and more than 8,000 nautical miles at sea, on Thursday, October 6, 2016, Pride of Baltimore II returns home to Baltimore. Pride II participated in the TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® Great Lakes 2016, participating in eight large tall ship festivals, visiting nine other Great Lakes ports, welcoming tens of thousands of visitors on board, forging new business development for the state of Maryland, and winning three of five races. Members of the press are invited to participate in this event from aboard Pride II’s decks for a 90-minute sail. Space is extremely limited; to RSVP, contact Laura Rodini as soon as possible at laura@pride2.org or 202-669-3065.

Thursday, October 6, 2016, Schedule of Events

Pride II will be escorted into Baltimore Harbor by the Baltimore City Fire Department’s fire boat and a Moran tug. Pride II will sail past Fort McHenry at approximately 12:30 p.m., through the Baltimore Inner Harbor around 1:20 p.m., and, with cannons blazing, dock at Broadway Pier in Fells Point close to 2 p.m. Pride II will be open for FREE deck tours at Broadway Pier in Fells Point from 3 to 6:30 p.m. At 6 p.m., the Baltimore Rock Opera Society (BROS) will preview their upcoming show, Brides of Tortuga, on board Pride II.

The timeline is approximate, and as follows:

12:30 p.m. Pride II to pass Fort McHenry
12:55 p.m. Pride II to pass Fells Point
1:20 p.m. Pride II to circle through Inner Harbor
1:45 p.m. Pride II to make “grandstand” arrival into Fells Point
3-6:30 p.m. Pride II to open for FREE public deck tours
6 p.m. Baltimore Rock Opera Society (BROS) performance on Pride II
6:30-? p.m. Meet the Crew and BROS at a local pub

Pride of Baltimore II is a reproduction of an 1812-era topsail schooner privateer. She is Maryland’s working symbol of the great natural resources and spectacular beauty of the Chesapeake Bay region, and a reminder of America’s rich maritime heritage. Pride of Baltimore II is owned and operated by the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization Pride of Baltimore, Inc. Continuation of her mission is contingent on private funding. Pride of Baltimore II’s full sailing and event schedule can be found at www.pride2.org/comeaboard.

In June 2016, Pride II departed Baltimore for Toronto, Ontario, to participate in the TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® Great Lakes 2016, traveling more than 8,000 nautical miles, participating in eight large tall ship festivals, and stopping in another nine Great Lakes ports. All told, Pride II has welcomed over 64,000 fans of the ship and visitors across her deck in twenty-one ports so far this year.

At the tall ship festivals, Pride’s presence in itself promoted Baltimore and Maryland in a positive light, but her crew also highlighted tourism and economic development opportunities in Maryland. Several businesses also used Pride to entertain staff and clients in various ports. Port organizers treated sponsors – such as Dow Corning in Bay City and Shell Canada in Brockville – and VIPs to dockside receptions on board Pride. The Maryland Port Administration hosted a sailing charter in Erie, Pennsylvania.

Pride participated in five TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® races this summer, one in each of the Great Lakes, racing against other traditional sailing vessels and sail training ships, including the Viking longship Draken Harald Hårfagre and the War of 1812 US Brig Niagara. Pride II did exceptionally well in the races with a record of three first places, one second, and one third. Each of the races had its own unique challenges and conditions and Pride of Baltimore II and her crew performed well.

During her Great Lakes voyage, the support for Pride of Baltimore II was overwhelming. From Cape Vincent, New York, to the banks of the Welland Canal; from Sturgeon Bay to the shores of Superior; thousands of people lined the waterways to welcome her with warm smiles and cameras in hand. Many people tracked the ship online and woke up in the twilight hours hoping to catch a glimpse of the iconic Pride of Baltimore II sailing by. Visitors of all ages in the Great Lakes were appreciative that Pride sailed thousands of miles to visit their small towns and cities.

Pride of Baltimore II promotes tourism and represents the economic interests of Baltimore and Maryland wherever she travels. Maryland is ranked #1 in the region for job growth, and the U.S. Department of Commerce ranked the greater Baltimore region as #3 for innovation and entrepreneurship. Rick Scott, executive director for Pride of Baltimore, Inc., remarked, "Whenever Pride II voyages to distant ports, it's a wonderful opportunity to shine a positive light on our home city of Baltimore, birthplace of our national anthem. In addition to promoting tourism for our region, we hope to highlight the natural beauty of the Chesapeake Bay, the vibrancy of the Port of Baltimore, and that Maryland is a great place to do business."

About Pride of Baltimore II
For nearly four decades, Pride of Baltimore and Pride of Baltimore II have represented the people of Maryland in ports throughout the world, spreading a positive message and extending the hand of friendship globally. Since her commissioning in 1988, Pride II has traveled more than 250,000 nautical miles and visited 40 countries in 200 ports. Pride II has become one of the most well-known U.S. sailing vessels in the world, capturing the imagination of millions of people.

Image via Pride of Baltimore.