The Tall Ship, Juan Sebastián Elcano is in the neighborhood

Ahoy there!

Have you seen her? The tall ship Juan Sebastián Elcano is back in Boston.  It was initially docked at Pier 4 in the Seaport, but word on the street that the Spanish ship is now in Charlestown at the Navy Yard.  Stop by and to catch a glimpse!

A little background on the ship

The “Juan Sebastián Elcano” is the Spanish Navy midshipmen training vessel. She is a four-masted topsail schooner with a hull made of iron and a crew composed of 220 members, including midshipmen.

She was launched in 1927 and delivered to the “Armada” in 1928. Since then, she has completed 77 training voyages, including ten circumnavigations of the globe; this is more than one and a half million nautical miles sailed.

Her four masts are named after the other training ships that preceded her (Blanca, Almansa, Asturias, and Nautilus).

The vessel is named in honor of Juan Sebastián de Elcano, the first navigator to complete a voyage around the globe. She also carries the Elcano´s coat of arms which was granted to him by Emperor Charles the 1st as a reward for his glorious deeds.

Above the shield there is a closed helmet with a crest consisting of a globe with the Latin motto “TU PRIMUS CIRCUMDEDISTI ME” (the first to circumnavigate me).

Special thank you to Gordon who sent us the scoop!