War of 1812

Educating the Next Generation

Over the past two weeks, captains and crew of Pride of Baltimore II joined with rangers at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine to teach students about the War of 1812 and the role of Privateers. Students from across Baltimore City schools came aboard to immerse themselves in maritime technology, the ins and outs of the ship, and navigating the Chesapeake Bay. For some students, this was their first time on a boat! With lessons in both American history and Maryland history, it was a thrill for our crew to meet these students and create a one-of-a-kind learning experience for them.

The education program is part of a new partnership between Pride and the National Park Service Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail, a 560-mile land and water route that tells the story of the War of 1812 in the Chesapeake Bay region. It connects historic sites in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia, and commemorates the events leading up to the Battle of Baltimore, the aftermath of which inspired Francis Scott Key to write our national anthem. This partnership introduces hundreds of students to Maryland’s unique history and is an incredible opportunity to educate the next generation about the history of our great state and its role in shaping a young nation. We hope that this partnership will inspire young minds, instilling pride in their state and pride in their country.

[metaslider id=24379]

Pride of Baltimore to Visit Havre de Grace for War of 1812 Weekend

America’s Star-Spangled Ambassador to offer education programs and guided deck tours

BALTIMORE, April 28, 2014 – Pride of Baltimore will return to Havre de Grace on Thursday, May 1st for War of 1812 Weekend. The ship will be docked at Hutchinson Park

(100 Congress Avenue, Havre de Grace, MD 21078) Thursday through Sunday evening.

On Friday, May 2nd captain and crew will welcome aboard local students for Pride’s experiential, STEM+H education program, “PRIDE on the Chesapeake.” In addition to spending time aboard a reproduction of a War of 1812 sailing vessel, students will investigate the various viewpoints of citizens about declaring war on England, and compare hull models of Baltimore Clippers to 19^th century cargo ships.

Pride will be open to the public and offering ($5) guided deck tours on Saturday, May 3^rd from 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM, and on Sunday, May 4^th from 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM. On Saturday Pride will have on display the Maryland Historical Society’s hand-sewn, 30′ x 42′ recreation of the Star-Spangled Banner.

A guided deck tour is the ultimate way to explore Pride’s deck, learn about past and present life aboard topsail schooner privateers, and interact with the vessel’s passionate and knowledgeable crew. Pride’s well-trained sailors will lead guests through various interpretive stations, including a hands-on demonstration in the Baltimore schooner design as well as an exciting video of Pride in action, bringing to life the traditional sailing experience for privateers in 1812.

PRESS RELEASE: Pride of Baltimore to Visit Havre de Grace for War of 1812 Weekend

Contact: Kate Cwiek, PR & Marketing Manager
kate@pride2.org, 410-539-1170

Pride of Baltimore to Visit Havre de Grace for War of 1812 Weekend

America’s Star-Spangled Ambassador to offer education programs
and guided deck tours

BALTIMORE, April 28, 2014 – Pride of Baltimore will return to Havre de Grace on Thursday, May 1st for War of 1812Weekend. The ship will be docked at Concord Point Lighthouse Thursday through Sunday evening.

The Pride of Baltimore is a reconstruction of an early 19^th century Baltimore Clipper. These sleek, fast, and maneuverable vessels became famous as privateers during the War of 1812. Their success in capturing British merchant ships inspired the Royal Navy’s attack on Baltimore in 1812. When Francis Scott Key saw the American flag still flying after the all-night bombardment of Fort McHenry, he was inspired to pen the “Star-Spangled Banner.”

2014 is the first year in many that Pride will remain in local waters – traveling to as many Maryland ports as possible throughout the Star-Spangled Summer of 2014, reaching between 50,000 and 100,000 people in her port visits throughout the state. Since her commissioning in October of 1988, Pride has traveled over 250,000 nautical miles, visited 40 countries, and docked in over 200 ports of call. For more information on Pride’s 2014 sailing schedule, education initiatives, or membership program, please visit www.pride2.org.

# # #

A Walk Down Thames Street

Walking east down Thames Street in Fell’s Point last week, past the Broadway City Pier, one could see the tip of our jibboom past the trees and step by step our headrig is revealed and soon the whole of the iconic Baltimore Clipper is in sight, proud and elegant. She’s right where she should be, in the heart of Fell’s Point, the original home to these schooners two hundred years ago. The area was developed in the late 18^th century to become Chesapeake Bay’s shipbuilding and trading center. Shipyards and canneries lined the waterfront and local shops inland were dedicated to those workers. The community has fought hard to keep it the way it was, with restored buildings of old notable residents, shipyards and the notorious bumpy roads threatening high-heeled ankles on a Friday night.

It takes no stretch of the imagination while walking around the neighborhood to envision what life would have been like in the 18^th and 19^th centuries. People with carts hawking oysters and produce, disembodied hammers banging, kids in those knee high socks running around, rolling a hoop with a stick, and of course ships at anchor, crowding the harbor. Yes, Fell’s Point, although demographically has changed and the vendors therein tailor to a different audience now, it still keeps that same sort of… attitude. As a non-native Baltimorean, I just love the sheer aesthetics of these few square blocks.

The other day, docked here at the base of Ann St. at Thames, I climbed aloft to do maintenance on the main mast and was able to get a birds-eye view of the area in the rain. The clouds cast a Dickensian grey shade over the gabled landscape and if I squinted just right and lost myself, the era changed instantly and I was brought right back to the 1800’s. I hate to admit it, tarnishing what can only be the captains’ idea of my flawless work ethic, but I may have taken a moment from stitching up leather to soak in the feeling emanating from such a perspective. It reminded me that I am here not just to sail this awesome boat, but also to live and to celebrate the rich history of Baltimore. Sure, I’ve been working and explaining the history up and down the coast this year, but when I saw that view from the Ann Street Wharf I understood why it is something not only worth celebrating, it is worth preserving.

This year we’ve done a lot of work with Fort McHenry, the famed fort that withstood the onslaught of the English Navy just 198 years ago because of the audacity the city had in building ships like ours, as well as finding sailors brazen enough to sail them into such peril for money and country. Today, we had volunteer historical interpreters on board for an afternoon sail. They knew plenty about the Fort and the war, but we knew about the boats. We took this as an opportunity to show them why. Why Baltimore Clippers were so successful. Why America was able resist the British in the war. Why the British didn’t stop at Washington D.C. on their trip up here during the war.

Baltimore is lucky to have played such a vital role in this war, to have such a lively cosmopolitan locale like Fell’s Point during the industrial and commercial boom, and to have Fort McHenry to defend its honor and independence. America is lucky to have Baltimore! Imagine how the international boundaries and geopolitical landscape would have been changed were privateers not successful during the war, and the inspiring Star Spangled Banner never been written. Now imagine if Baltimore did not have Pride II. This honor and heritage would go largely forgotten! Even worse is that we would not have this awesome boat to sail!

Joe Hauser, Pride of Baltimore II Deckhand

PRIDE in Nantucket

Two 1812 War Baltimore Schooner Privateers, a fleet of classic racing yacht 12 Meter America’s Cup sailing vessels, a fleet of classic yacht International One Design (IOD) sailing vessels and numerous classic yacht sailing vessels marked by the presence of the only New York Yacht Club “50” footer to survive from the early 20th Century SPARTAN have been mingling daily this week. The iconic Privateer PRIDE OF BALTIMORE II and the smaller yachting version LYNX have been marking their presence by salutes of gun (cannon) fire. An enhancement to the gathering that seems to be well enough received despite the shock of the sudden loud reports.

To accommodate all of these vessels, as well as visiting yachts of all kinds to one of the East Coast’s summer yachting meccas, it is necessary that the larger vessels seeking access to a dock (rather than anchor out) must “Med-moor”. A form of both anchoring and tying up to a dock common in the Mediterranean Sea, Med-moor is a stern-to the dock orientation using anchors forward and dock-lines aft with gangways extended over or out of the stern. This is a somewhat awkward mooring method for PRIDE. Her stern bulwark, or transom, must be climbed over and her gangway must be attached at the top of the back of the transom. Some special modifications were arranged with the assistance of past builders of PRIDE II, Paul Powichroski and Gary (Leroy) Suroski of Baltimore. The system of quick and easy to install & remove steps to get up and down from the transom rail-cap works very well. The new brackets for hanging the gangway work dependably. The whole assembly works perfectly.

What is iffy about this type of mooring is the vagaries of the wind. A change of the wind blowing on one side to another or from either the bow or the stern to one side send the bow off-center and make for a pivoting reality that risks jamming the gangway against a piling and possibly begin to tear it off the transom. Maybe this could be prevented by the use of two anchors spread to either side of the bow. But anyone familiar with “traditional” crew-driven anchor hauling systems will know such a system is a tremendous amount of work…especially when sailing everyday…and sometimes twice a day! So we are for the moment hoping to stick with only one anchor.

PRIDE’s welcome to Nantucket is one of sincere appreciation for the history she represents. But what is most complimentary is the appreciation for such a world renowned American sailing vessel paying Nantucket a visit. PRIDE OF BALTIMORE II thanks Nantucket very much for the sincere welcome! More specifically, I would like to thank the Nantucket Community Sailing Association and Nantucket Boat Basin.

In addition I would like to thank Panerai, the high quality Italian watch manufacturer for the opportunity given to PRIDE to assist in honoring cancer victims and their medical staff through the charity organization ‘Sailing Heals’ of New York and their relationship with the Nantucket Hospital.

Meanwhile PRIDE has been host to Maryland families who summer in Nantucket. Last night’s evening reception with these families, which included ESPN sailing commentator Gary Jobson, and many of their Nantucket friends, seemed to be much enjoyed; especially with the visit of Sgt. Mike Fraser of the U.S. Marines, a wounded veteran of 3 tours in Iraq and a tour in Afghanistan, who assisted PRIDE’s crew with the gun salute at evening colors. Sunday PRIDE will take many of these Maryland families, including Sgt. Fraser, will sail aboard PRIDE, partaking in the exhibition start of two PRIVATEERS to be performed prior to the official start of the 40th Anniversary of the Nantucket Opera House Cup Regatta. With both PRIVATEERS discharging guns throughout the exhibition, it ought to be quite the spectacle. If not, certainly noisy and smokey!

Jan C. Miles, Captain
Acting Executive Director

Hats off to Halifax, Eagle Steals our Broom, Tattooed at the Citadel and What we do “When No One’s Looking."

25 July 2012
Pos: Alongside the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic, Lunenburg Nova Scotia
Wx: North Force 1, 5/8 Stratus

After an adventurous sail to windward along the Nova Scotian coast, Pride of Baltimore II is snug in the quintessentially Canadian Maritime Seaport of Lunenburg. Arriving in town along with tops’l schooners Lynx, Unicorn and Amistad we joined Larinda, Providence and Roseway for the second port of Tall Ships Nova Scotia.

Known around the fleet for its hospitality, Lunenburg follows hot on the heels of a splendid stay in bustling Halifax. From our grandstanding arrival on Tuesday, through the spectacle of an opening ceremony highlighted with as much Navy Brass as any OpSail occasion, to impressive crew events at the imposing Citadel, Halifax hosted us well. We hope the 8,900 visitors to Pride II feel we returned the favor.

As final destination in the Tall Ships Challenge series, Halifax hosted the awards ceremony for races three and four. Pride II was first again for the “Etch-a-Sketch” event of Race Three, but the US Coast Guard Barque Eagle edged us out in the “Sprint to Halifax.” As a time-trial, this fourth race was based on the corrected average speeds of the vessels over an eight-hour period. Eagle’s was .24 knots faster than Pride II’s. With our own uncorrected average being 10.23 knots, there isn’t much we could have done to push Pride II harder, but Eagle’s strategy was to wait for the breeze to build before starting their run. So no broom for a clean sweep of the series by Pride II – well done and well raced, Eagle!

Also, well done to all regiments and bands who performed the 1812 Military Tattoo at Halifax’s Citadel on Sunday night. A tour de force of fifes, drums, bagpipes and historic weapons demonstrations celebrated Canada’s rich history and highlighted the 198 years of peace and friendship between our nations. Stealing the show were the 78th Highlanders, who Pride II had the pleasure of hosting for a reception earlier in the weekend. Following their example, we did our best to close out Monday’s Parade of Sail in style as we brought up the rear of 21 ship procession around Halifax Harbour.

Not that putting on a show is new territory for Pride II. For 24 years, we’ve been striving not just to impress dockside visitors with the sleek beauty of the ship, but to inspire and awe on-lookers from shore by highlighting the characteristic nimble elegance of the Baltimore Privateers she so thoroughly represents.

Our arrival and departure from Halifax are prime examples – outbound, we carried easy sail to stay at the required parade speed of five knots until we made the final run along the downtown waterfront and cracked on the mains’l and jib to charge out to sea. But on arrival day, with the Harbour mostly to ourselves, we barreled in under all plain sail, made a few passes by downtown at seven knots, then in a barrage of four guns took in sail and rounded up close enough to our wharf to pass lines.

We hoped to impress, and the gathered crowd on the pier seemed to confirm it. In fact, one onlooker even said “Good show. But what do you guys do when no one’s looking, you still use the sails?”

The only answer I could give was this: “When no one’s looking? That’s when we do all the REALLY cool stuff.”

Sounds glib, but it’s true. Our extended experiment in live action nautical archeology is on-going. Thrashing our way out of Halifax, we noticed a slight tear in the lower section of our fores’l, so we reefed it to contain the damaged portion and sailed on, beating our way out to sea as if it were 1812, and at the end of the day, sailing on the anchor at 23:45 in Rose Bay, eight miles from Lunenburg. Too bad that no one could see us, because handling 8000 square feet of sail in the pitch dark and rounding up safely to drop the hook someplace we’d never seen before was a particularly handy piece of seamanship by the crew.

All best,
Captain Jamie Trost and the smart sailing Crew of Pride of Baltimore II