The 129-foot Pride arrived in this Baltimore harbour at the end of her transatlantic crossing early in May 1985. The crew of 12 completed the 3,500 mile journey in record time, allowing them to enjoy a warm welcome in our village. Many of the crew had Irish ancestry and few will forget the week-long celebrations on her arrival.

The Pride was the first Baltimore Clipper to sail in over 100 years and was handbuilt in 1976/77, using traditional tools and methods: every feature was an authentic reproduction, including the granite rock used for ballast in her hull.

Her two sloping masts soared 95 feet above the waterline and she carried over 9,500 square feet of canvas. She had a light hull, low freeboard, raking stern and sternposts, all of which made her extremely fast.

Traditionally used for what amounted to little more than legalised piracy in the 18th and 19th centuries, these ships needed to be fast. The Pride was, unfortunately, not fast enough to sail away from a 90 mph squall which hit her north of the Bahamas in the spring of 1986. She sank with the loss of four lives. It was a tragedy all Baltimoreans felt deeply. Community response was immediate and contributions flowed in for the rebuilding of the city's Clipper.

Pride of Baltimore II was launched on April 30th 1988. This vessel is larger and heavier than the original and has visited its 'Irish home' on many occasions. We look forward to many more visits.

Visit the Pride of Baltimore website or find her current location.