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Pride Aloft

Launching and Rigging

Pride of Baltimore was launched on February 27, 1977 by "Big Red," a huge floating crane from the Bethlehem Shipyard that lifted the bare hull like a toy and gently placed her in the water. The traditional bottle of champagne was cracked against her hull by then Congresswoman (now Senator) Barbara Mikulski.

Pride No Rig
But much work remained to be done. Forty tons of fixed ballast were packed along the keel below deck. Ballast consisted of specially molded iron pigs and cubes, as well as ten tons of traditional Belgian paving stones that had been part of Baltimore streets - and had probably arrived from Europe as ballast in 19th century sailing vessels! The two masts and spars of Douglas fir from Oregon were shaped and stepped, and the rigging put in place.

A major compromise with authenticity occurred late in the ship's construction process as a result of the incredible excitement stirred by the arrival and visit of six "tall ships" from around the world to the Inner Harbor during the City's 1976 July 4th Bicentennial Celebration. Sensing that Pride could awaken the same kind of excitement in other ports, City Council authorized an additional $50,000 for a diesel engine for Pride to enable her to travel to distant places and maneuver in crowded ports. Hence, an 85 horsepower Caterpillar propulsion system was sandwiched into the vessel after launch.

Pride No Rig On May 1, 1977, Pride of Baltimore was commissioned by Mayor Schaefer in the name of the citizens of Baltimore and Maryland, most of whom, it seemed, were dockside participating in the ceremony.

Specifications of the original
Pride of Baltimore

  • 90 feet on deck
  • 79 feet at the waterline
  • 23 feet at extreme beam
  • 9 feet 9 inches draught
  • 121 tons displacement
  • 9,327 square feet sail area

Pride No Rig

Her topside was painted black with green anti-fouling paint below the waterline. Her unmistakable signature was a result of her steeply raked masts (17 degrees), the broad white stripe along the exterior gunwale, and her flowing white banner atop the mainmast. With her gaff rigged fore and mainsails set and her square foretop sail raised, Pride of Baltimore was a beautiful and unforgettable reminder of Baltimore's proud maritime heritage.

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