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| The Pride of Baltimore II (courtesy photo) |
PEIRCE ISLAND –
Sail Portsmouth 2012 is all about American history.
The Piscataqua Maritime Commission, which organizes the annual event, are
thrilled to welcome the Pride of Baltimore II, a reproduction of an
1812-era topsail schooner privateer, and Providence, a replica of the
first command of John Paul Jones.
“We are a totally non-profit, volunteer organization that
exists to promote the maritime heritage of the region,” said Donald Coker,
chairman of the PMC.
This year's festival is July 13-15. Once again it will be
held at the Fish Pier at Peirce Island.
Pride of Baltimore II is Maryland’s working symbol of the
great natural resources and spectacular beauty of the Chesapeake Bay region.
She is a Baltimore Clipper, fast enough to evade the British battleships in
1812, while armed with cannon and crews willing to fight. Since this
replica was commissioned, this 157' vessel has sailed more than 200,000 miles
and visited 200 ports.
In 1775, a year before the signing of the Declaration of
Independence, the Colony of Rhode Island bought and refitted the schooner Katy.
She was renamed Providence and in May, 1776, she was the first command of John
Paul Jones. Providence participated in sixty engagements with British ships and
sank or seized forty enemy vessels.
Portsmouth's own Gundalow Company has launched a new vessel
this year, called Piscataqua. She will participate in Sail Portsmouth's
Parade of Sail and be located near the pier where she will take passengers on
day sails. Gundalows were the equivalent of today’s tractor-trailer rigs,
carrying cargo between ocean going schooners and the growing towns in the
region. The weekend features day sails, the popular Parade of Sail, deck tours,
a Captains' reception, exhibits, food, music, and souvenirs.
The tall ships started coming to Portsmouth in the
mid-1980’s.
“There were two generations,” Coker said of Sail
Portsmouth’s history. “There was the Maritime Heritage Commission – it was
called – that brought class-A tall ships. These are the big boys. They came
from Germany, Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina – all over the world.” After three or
four years, the MHC disbanded.
“We picked up in 1998,” Coker said. ‘And we’ve been doing it
every year since then.”
Folks can relax and daydream on a two-hour day sail,
or be a passenger in the thrilling Parade of
Sail into Portsmouth harbor accompanied by tugs, fireboats, private
boats, and cannon salutes.
For people who want to witness the majesty of the Parade of
Sail on Friday morning, good viewing spots are Four Tree Island in Portsmouth,
Great Island Common and Portsmouth Yacht Club in New Castle, and Fort Foster in
Kittery.
Megan Lyman,
Miss New Hampshire 2012, will visit Friday at 3 p.m. Under the tent, there are
maritime exhibitors, fresh food from Seaport Fish, and souvenir merchandise.
The New England
Brethern of Pirates will be roaming about as well. Dine and chat
with the captains and crews at the Captains'
Reception on Saturday evening. The Piscataqua River
Brass performs at 3 p.m. on Sunday at Fish Pier.
Through a co-promotion with Strawbery Banke, the Sail
Portsmouth ticket will also get you half-price admission to many historic
sites.
To purchase tickets for a day sail or to ride in the Parade
of Sail, please go to www.gundalow.org.
For more information, visit pmcportsmouth.org.
