The tall ship Pride of Baltimore II has cast off from Charm City and is venturing on a summer odyssey, navigating the Great Lakes to share Maryland’s seafaring tales and tradition. The ship is set to dock at eight harbors starting in Brockville, Ontario, and eventually winding up its tour in Erie, Pennsylvania. This floating ambassador, according to Fox Baltimore, will be engaging in the Tall Ships Challenge, bringing a slice of Maryland pride to spectators across these freshwater expanses.
If you're keen on tracking this maritime journey – and trust me, maritime tracking is all the rage for history buffs and boat enthusiasts alike – you can keep tabs on the Pride’s whereabouts as it showcases Maryland's maritime history. Making a splash from June 20 in Brockville, ON, and then slicing through the waves until an August 24 finale in Erie, PA, officials heralded this grand voyage with a ceremony replete with local dignitaries at Baltimore's waterfront, as reported by WMAR2News.
The Pride of Baltimore II, which cut through the waves beginning May 31, has charted a summer flotilla festival that includes not just appearing in the aforementioned Tall Ships Challenge – a series that pirouettes between the Pacific, the Atlantic, and this year, the Great Lakes – but also trumpeting Maryland-grown products. Visiting each port, the Pride will act as a floating emissary, according to the local Maryland Sailing Ambassadors, the crew will be sharing the state's rich maritime heritage and history with a range of fascinated onlookers thirsting for a touch of the oceanic lore.
Since her christening in 1988, the Pride II has served as a poignant symbol of Maryland’s history and resilience, rising from the depths of tragedy following the loss of her sister ship Pride of Baltimore in 1986. Crewed by a diverse team hailing from every corner of the globe, the ship breathes life into their stories and her sails, representing the spirit of cooperation and adventure that any seafarer will tell you is the core of sailing life. After completing her Great Lakes circuit, the Pride is slated for a homecoming in Baltimore come early October, just in time to bask in the afterglow of her grand summer tour – a fitting endcap to a journey across the fresh waters of the Great Lakes, according to WMAR2News.
