SAIL MAIL: Pride’s Next Chapter

Greetings!

When I began working with Pride in 2013, we were in the midst of a series of bicentennial events commemorating the War of 1812, which lasted from 1812 to 1815. Yes, the Treaty of Ghent officially ended the war in December 1814, but news was slow to travel in those days and the Battle of New Orleans was fought in January 1815. And Chasseur, one of the most successful privateers of the war, did not return to Baltimore until spring 1815. Upon her arrival, she was greeted by cheering crowds and dubbed the “Pride of Baltimore.” This was a critical time period in the early history of the United States and culminated in the penning of our national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

<em>Pride II</em> during Star-Spangled Sailabration,
Pride II during Star-Spangled Sailabration, 2012

It has been an honor to have served as executive director over the past few years as Pride was central to so many commemorative events. From 2012 to 2015, we welcomed more than 200,000 people aboard, educated thousands of children, engaged our local communities, provided use of the vessel for corporate and non-profit use, captured the imagination of hundreds of thousands of individuals, and attracted millions of dollars in ad value from the media we generated promoting Baltimore and Maryland.

I have been inspired by the many people I have met who have a personal story, a real connection, to Pride. Our history, our heart, and our soul are in Baltimore and in Maryland, and we want the rest of the world to discover and enjoy Maryland’s Pride. As we set sail in 2016, we continue our nearly four-decade mission to promote historical maritime education, foster economic development and tourism, and represent the people of Maryland in ports throughout the world. We accomplish this by providing free educational deck tours, student programs, public day sails, overnight guest crew opportunities, private charters, dockside receptions, and partnering with the corporate and non-profit communities to extend their impact.

I am very excited about Pride’s next chapter! In 2016, our plan is to sail in the Chesapeake Bay in spring and fall, and voyage along the East Coast and into the Great Lakes during the summer. When we are sailing our local waters, we will welcome aboard thousands of students, local citizens, and visiting tourists, and partner with dozens of organizations and corporations to host dockside receptions or private charters. As we travel to the Great Lakes, we will participate in tall ship festivals, introducing tens of thousands of individuals to Maryland’s Pride and continuing to spread positive messages of Baltimore and Maryland as we travel regionally and nationally.

We need your support to keep the wind in our sails!

Pride of Baltimore II during Star Spangled Spectacular 2014
Pride of Baltimore II during Star Spangled Spectacular 2014

Since the economic downturn of 2008, many tall ships throughout the country have had their share of financial challenges. We have witnessed our sister ships tied up, not operating, or even put up for sale. Pride, Inc. is fortunate that we have had a small endowment to help bridge our gap in funding each year. We are also fortunate to not have any debt and a very well-maintained vessel that, with prudent care, can easily sail another fifty years. However, because we have been sailing in local waters for the past two years, we have some maintenance we need to complete to prepare for ocean voyaging in 2016. We estimate needing approximately $70,000 for this deferred maintenance, including:

• Caulking to preserve the physical strength of the vessel.
• Replacing one of our sails (fore staysail) for age-related issues.
• Replacing our satellite transceiver, satellite phone, and some communications equipment (laptop, phone, radio) to meet regulations.
• Servicing our magnetic compass for continued long-term dependability.
• Overhauling our emergency rescue boat – again, age-related – for continued dependability during any emergency operations.

Please click here to help us complete this necessary maintenance in 2016!

Since her commissioning in 1988, Pride of Baltimore II has become one of the most well-known U.S. sailing vessels in the world, sailing 250,000 nautical miles and visiting more than 200 ports in 40 countries. She has captured public imagination worldwide and spread positive messages of Baltimore and Maryland. With your help, we can keep her sailing and inspiring people for generations to come.

During this season of giving, we ask that you make a donation to keep Pride sailing, and provide support for our upcoming maintenance needs. Every donation – regardless of the amount – makes a difference! Please be sure to check with your employer to see if they will match your donation and double your impact.

And, just by donating on December 30 and December 31, you will be entered to win a Day Sail for Two in 2016! It’s our gift to you. As always, we thank you for your  continued support.

Wishing you and your loved ones a happy and peaceful new year,

Rick Scott
Executive Director, Pride of Baltimore II

P.S. Click here to read a brochure that highlights some of our programs, travels, and accomplishments over the past few years.

Support Pride II on #GivingTuesday!

GIVINGTUESDAY Facebook

We have a day for giving thanks. We have two for getting deals. Now, we have #GivingTuesday, a global day dedicated to giving back. On Tuesday, December 1, 2015, charities, families, businesses, community centers, and students around the world are uniting together for one common purpose: to celebrate generosity and to give.

 

Throughout the course of each year, Pride, Inc. strives to promote historical maritime education, foster economic development and tourism, and represent the people of Maryland in every port she visits.

 

Pride Inc. relies primarily on individual philanthropy, grants, corporate sponsorships, and membership to bridge the gap in funding each year. A gift on #GivingTuesday will directly support Pride’s educational programming, sailing opportunities, and ship operations in 2016. Click on the Donate button below to show your support. We thank you sincerely!

 

What is #GIVINGTUESDAY?

 

Donate $50 or more and receive a Pride of Baltimore II poster signed by one of our captains!


Now Available: Keepsake Oyster Knives Crafted From Timber Used to Build Pride II

Now Available:
Keepsake Oyster Knives Crafted From Timber Used to Build Pride II
Proceeds Benefit Oyster Restoration Projects &
Pride of Baltimore II

Dale German
Woodworker Dale German

In a hundred-year-old warehouse in central Baltimore, master woodworker Dale German is hard at work. Bent over an electric lathe and surrounded by an aromatic mound of wood chips, he chisels a block of mahogany into a rounded handle of an oyster knife. Next he carefully adds a heated knife blade, emblazoned with letters.

The knife, one of only 500, is part of a project commissioned by the Oyster Recovery Project and Pride of Baltimore, Inc. in an effort to raise funds to support Chesapeake Bay restoration and preserve its rich maritime history.

Each knife handle is carved from tropical hardwood that was left over after the construction of Pride II in 1988. The knives are being crafted in an extremely small quantity over a limited timeframe.

The knives can be pre-ordered through the Oyster Recovery Partnership’s website. Orders placed by December 18 will ship in time for the holiday season: click here for complete details.

About The Historic Project

Pride of Baltimore II, courtesy Norbert Stager
Pride of Baltimore II, courtesy Norbert Stager

Throughout her storied history, hundreds of thousands of people have come aboard, gone for a sail or participated in an educational program aboard Pride of Baltimore II. Now, through this innovative project spearheaded by the Oyster Recovery Partnership, you can own a keepsake piece of Pride II herself — and support environmental efforts and Pride II at the same time.

Each knife handle is carved from timbers of bullet tree and mahogany, used in framing Pride II‘s hull and as trim on deck structures. The wood has been preserved in climate-controlled conditions since Pride II was built in 1988.

The knife blade is a 3-inch stainless steel “Boston” blade, a famous American oyster knife design known for being sturdy, versatile and dependable. It is one of the earliest known types used to “split the rock.”

Each laser-engraved knife comes with a certificate of authenticity and matching number from 001 to 500.

The Importance of Oysters to Chesapeake Life

A beautiful, usable keepsake crafted from wood used to build Pride II
A beautiful, usable keepsake crafted from
wood used to build Pride II

Oysters play a vital role in improving Chesapeake Bay water quality by creating a habitat for a multitude of marine life, including the Blue Crab and Striped Bass.

The Oyster Recovery Partnership (ORP) was established to help manage and implement Maryland’s oyster restoration efforts. Over the last 21 years, the nonprofit has planted more than 5.9 billion oysters on 2,200 acres of oyster reefs in Maryland, including the largest man-made oyster reef in the country. ORP manages the region’s oyster shell recycling program and supports other sustainable fisheries management efforts.

“Our intent through this project was to design a classic historical symbol of Chesapeake Bay culture that is practical for everyday use,” said Oyster Recovery Partnership Executive Director Stephan Abel. “This is also a way for the Oyster Recovery Partnership and Pride of Baltimore II to salute Maryland’s oyster heritage while we continue our work to preserve the traditions of the Bay.”

Once these limited-edition knives sell out, they’ll be gone forever. So order your piece of history today while they’re still available!

We thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

Pride of Baltimore, Inc.

 


More Commissioning Press from 1988 #27forPride2

Do you recognize the man in the photo? That’s right — it’s Captain Jan Miles 27 years ago!

Take a look at this detailed encounter of Pride II’s commissioning with quotes from Captain Miles, builders of Pride II, and even the shipwright G. Peter Bordreau.

THE BALTIMORE SUN – OCTOBER 24, 1988

Pride of Baltimore II in the Baltimore Sun from October 1988

Coins Beneath the Masts #27forPride2

In keeping with a maritime tradition that dates back to classical antiquity, the construction crew of the Pride of Baltimore II placed a handful of symbolic coins under the 85-foot lower masts.

Among the coins were two 19th century silver half dollars, two 1943 silver quarters and one 1988 silver dollar.

“Coins in the classical tradition,” writes The Baltimore Sun, “are placed beneath ships’ masts to ensure the passage of the spirits of the dead across the River Styx into the afterlife. Seafarers believe that if the ship meets with any mishap, the fare for those aboard is paid with the coins.”

All week we are posting interesting stories surrounding the commissioning of Pride of Baltimore II back in October, 1988!

Read the full Baltimore Sun article from 1988:

Pride of Baltimore II - Baltimore Sun 1988