FALMOUTH Tallships Association is talking with the organisation that operates the American tallship Pride of Baltimore II who are keen to send their vessel to Falmouth in June 2005 to participate in the local Sea Britain 2005 mini tallships festival.

FTSA chairman Mike Rangecroft said: "Since her commissioning, Pride II has sailed nearly 200,000 miles, and visited more than 200 ports in 40 countries in north, south, and central America, Europe, and Asia."

In May 1986, the original Pride of Baltimore sank after being struck by what the US Coastguard said at the time was a microburst squall. Winds of 80 knots completely overwhelmed the vessel that sank within minutes with the loss of four crew.

Pride of Baltimore II is an exact replica of the topsail schooners called Baltimore Clippers.