City to Welcome Pride of Baltimore II

The Pride of Baltimore II will sail into Portsmouth Harbor for the annual Tall Ships event in July, according to Sail Portsmouth organizers.

According to the Piscataqua Maritime Commission's website, the War of 1812-era replica ship will arrive in Portsmouth for the event that runs from July 12 to July 15. Sail Portsmouth officials also said the new Piscataqua Gundalow built by the Gundalow Company will also be featured.

When visitors come down to the NH State Pier, they can look forward to two-hour day sails about the "Baltimore," along with deck tours and the exhibitor's tents. The event will begin with the Parade of Sail when the Pride of Baltimore II and the Piscataqua will be escorted up river to the NH State Pier.

According to Pride of Baltimore II's website, the vessel was commissioned in 1988 after the first Pride of Baltimore sank off the coast of Puerto Rico in 1986 taking the captain and crew down with her. The ship is 185.5 "long tons" and is 157 feet long with a 26-foot beam and a draft of 12 feet and 4 inches.

"Since her commissioning, Pride II has sailed nearly 200,000 miles, and visited over 200 ports in 40 countries in North, South, and Central America, Europe, and Asia. In 1998 she undertook her first voyage to Asia with port calls in China, Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan. In 2000 she made her fourth trip to Europe capturing First Place in her Class in a Transatlantic Tall Ship race," reads the Pride's website.