Name American Pride Type Three-masted schooner Capacity 100 Length 39 m Displacement 181,400 kg | Homeport Long Beach, California Draft 10 ft (3.0 m) Launched 1941 Weight 203.2 tons Beam 6.4 m | |
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Builder Muller Boatworks, Brooklyn, New York | ||
American Pride is a three-masted schooner built in 1941 by Muller Boatworks in Brooklyn, New York. Administrated by the Children's Maritime Foundation (CMF), her home port is Long Beach, California. She is easily recognized by her bright ochre sails.
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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 and George's Bank. Following a complete restoration in 1986, where she acquired her third mast, she was renamed Natalie Todd and operated as a charter boat out of Bar 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, a not-for-profit organization.
Mission
American Pride is used for marine science education, sail training, and living 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, or environmental science.