Tall Ship Pride of Baltimore II

After the tragic sinking of the original Pride of Baltimore, the board of directors of the nonprofit that operated Pride for the City of Baltimore had no heart or stamina for building a replacement ship. But then the money started rolling in — in jars of pennies, in cans of dimes, in envelopes with $3.49 inside, in checks for $10,000.

This outpouring of unsolicited public support all but forced the board into going forward with a new ship. By late summer of 1986, plans for a replacement were under way. The ship was to be named Pride of Baltimore II and serve as a sailing memorial to the original Pride. She was to be another Baltimore Clipper topsail schooner that would continue the mission of the first ship. With an insurance payment of just under $500,000; a state grant of $1 million; and contributions from private citizens, students, corporations, and foundations totaling more than $2.5 million, sufficient funds were available to build a new ship and endow an operating fund.

Thomas Gillmer was once again commissioned as designer and supervising architect. Peter Boudreau, one of the builders and captains of the original vessel, was named as master shipwright and builder. Guided by the experience of the original Pride, the board determined that this vessel could better fulfill the mission of a globe-trotting ambassador that had evolved over the years if she was larger and had more cruising range both under sail and under power. It was also determined that Pride II would be licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard as a subchapter “T” vessel approved for carrying passengers. With these guidelines in hand, Gillmer set out to create a new Pride that would look much like the original on the outside but have more contemporary amenities and safety features below deck.