|
Length on Deck: 98’Beam: 24.6’Mainmast Height:98’
Net Tonnage: 64 Built:1945, Denmark
The Pilgrim is a full size replica of the hide brig immortalized
by Richard Henry Dana, Jr. in his American seafaring classic novel Two
Years Before the Mast. Dana said of the Pilgrim, "The vessel I am going
on is small, but strong and a remarkably fast sailor having been
built for the smuggling trade."
The original Pilgrim was built in 1825 at a cost
of $ 50,000. Her length was a mere 90 feet compared to the average
110 feet for other vessel of the same class. The purpose of its 1834 voyage
was to participate in the California cattle hide trade for her Boston owners,
Bryant and Sturgis. The Pilgrim set sail from Boston loaded with England’s
manufactured goes such as shoes, foodstuffs and ironware. When she arrived
along the Alta California coast, The Pilgrim would sell or trade her New
England wares then procure hides from the missions and rancheros to be
transported back to Boston. The Pilgrim anchored several times of
San Juan Bay (Dana Point). It is not known in what other trades the Pilgrim
engaged after her voyage to Alta California, Mexico. However, it is recorded
that she was lost in a fire at sea in 1856. By this time the hide trade
had also suffered its demise.
The new Pilgrim was built in 1945 as a three-masted schooner.
After many journeys in the Baltic Sea, she was modified with her current
rig, and entered Dana Point Harbor in September 1981.
Orange County Ocean Institute’s largest classroom provides a national award
winning living history program to over 16,000 students each year.
Setting sail annually with a volunteer crew in the late
summer, the Pilgrim travels north to the Channel Islands. The brig
visits ports along the way as an ambassador of good will for the
city of Dana Point. Her return in early September is celebrated with
the annual Toshiba Tallships Festival. Dana Point. CA 92629
949-496-2274
Internet: http://ocean-institute.org/ |
