A New Beginning After the tragic sinking of the original Pride of Baltimore, the Board of Directors of the non-profit company that operated Pride for the City 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. As Christopher Hartman, a long time Board member recalls, "It wasn't our decision, it was the public’s decision because it wasn't our ship, it was the public's ship." 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 of over $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 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 US Coast Guard as a subchapter "T" vessel approved for carrying passengers. With these guidelines in hand, designer 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.

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