- American Pride
"American Pride" is a three-masted
schooner built in1941 by Muller Boatworks inBrooklyn ,New York . Administrated by the Children's Maritime Foundation (CMF), her home port isLong Beach, California . She is easily recognized by her bright ochresails .History
"American Pride" was originally built as a two-masted "schooner-dragger" known as "Virginia" and spent over 40 years as a commercial fishing vessel, operating in the
Grand Banks andGeorge's Bank . Following a complete restoration in1986 , where she acquired her third mast, she was renamed "Natalie Todd" and operated as a charter boat out ofBar Harbor, Maine .In October 1996, she was purchased by the American Heritage Maritime Institute (AHMI) and sailed to California via the
Panama Canal . The administrating foundation name was changed to the Children's Maritime Foundation, anot-for-profit organization .Mission
"American Pride" is used for
marine science education,sail training , andliving history programs. Schools and organizations from around the nation board the vessel for sailing adventures ranging from 3 hours to 5 days. In partnership with the Parks, Recreation, and Marine department of the City of Long Beach, she carries children and their families for 3 hour educational tours of Long Beach Harbor during the summer. Children's Maritime Foundation also offers 5 day summer camp programs from late June through August.For the general public, "American Pride" offers scheduled whale watching and brunch cruises throughout the year in Long Beach Harbor, in addition to the Annual Buccaneer Days weekend sail in October - an adults only event to Catalina Island. "American Pride" was named the official Tall Ship of Long Beach in 2007.
"American Pride" is certified to carry 100 passengers and 6 crew for day sails and 59 passengers overnight, although she has only 38 bunks (32 passengers, 5 crew, 1 captain). During her educational programs to Catalina Island, however, bunks are typically left open as children and crew opt to sleep on deck.
Her crew members are typically trained in both sailing and marine science, usually having earned undergraduate or graduate degrees in
marine biology ,biology ,physiology , orenvironmental science .External links
* [http://www.americanpride.org American Pride]
* [http://garphoto.com/buccaneer/buccweb/index.html Bucaneer Days on the American Pride]
References
American Sail Training Association. "Sail Tall Ships! A Directory of Sail Training and Adventure at Sea". 14th edition. Newport, RI: 2002.
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