Still Sails

Aye, that morning in Sturgeon Bay, the air hung thicker than a sailor’s stew. Smoke from faraway wildfires rolled across the Midwest and settled over the harbor like a shroud, turning sunrise into something that looked more like the edge of a dream. And there she sat, the Pride of Baltimore II, still as a sleeping kraken, her rigging creaking just enough to remind you she was alive. Even the gulls kept their distance, as if they knew better than to disturb a ship that looked ready to slip through time itself.

The Pride is no ordinary vessel. She’s a Baltimore Clipper, built in 1988 but forged from an older spirit—the kind that once haunted the high seas. Her design hails back to the swift privateers that danced circles around larger ships during the War of 1812, the kind of ship Jack Sparrow himself might tip his hat to while muttering, “She’s the fastest vessel ever to sail the Great Lakes, savvy?” There’s something in her lines, something alive in the curve of her hull and the tilt of her masts. You can almost hear the whisper of salt and gunpowder if you listen close enough.

That morning, the smoke from distant fires dimmed the colors of the world, painting the sky in shades of rose and ash. Across the Midwest, the haze muted the day, but here it gave everything a touch of magic—or madness, depending on your point of view. The Pride stood there like she knew more than she was saying, her reflection stretched across the water as perfect as a mirage.

The tall ships will return to Sturgeon Bay in 2028, and when they do, it’ll be a fine day for anyone with a bit of pirate in their heart. You’ll hear the creak of wood, the snap of canvas, and the laughter of those brave enough to chase the wind for no reason other than because it’s there. So when you see her again, don’t just look—listen. The Pride of Baltimore II carries stories that refuse to stay quiet. As Captain Jack might say, “It’s not the destination, love. It’s the rum, the sea, and the bit of madness that makes the voyage worth remembering.”

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