371-foot Spanish Navy tall ship Juan Sebasti n de Elcano sails

371-foot Spanish Navy tall ship Juan Sebastián de Elcano sails into Galveston Thursday



The Spanish Navy training vessel Juan Sebastián de Elcano was reported somewhere in the Gulf of Mexico this week en route to Galveston, with an expected arrival on Thursday, according to VesselFinder.com, which tracks vessels and their locations and trajectories. The historic four-masted vessel will be docked at Pier No. 21 in Galveston port May 28 through June 1, a news release from the Visit Galveston confirmed.The ship is on its 98th Midshipmen Training Cruise, which began in January with its departure from the port of Cadiz, carrying 73 midshipmen from the graduating classes of the 428th Spanish Navy and the 158th Marine Corps graduating class. The vessel is scheduled to make eleven port calls, including stops in Galveston, Norfolk, New York and Baltimore with an itinerary that encompasses comprehensive training of midshipmen in their third year of a five-year program at the Naval Academy. The stops support Spain's "foreign policy and diplomatic presence" in the ports it will visit until returning to the port of Cadiz on July 31, according to the news release. This is the first time since 2009 that the tall ship - which is the third largest tall ship in the world at 371 feet long - has anchored in Galveston, bringing with it a rich history of naval service.Launched in 1927 the historic vessel remains an active training ship for Royal Spanish Navy officers, called Guardiamarinas, and has spent nearly a century at sea, traveled 1.9 nautical miles and anchored at ports in over 70 countries.Of its 97 training exercises to date, 11 were around the world voyages. The ship was docked at Pier 21 next to the Texas Seaport Museum during its June 2009 visit, extending "best wishes" to Texas coast residents still recovering from Hurricane Ike, stated Spain's Consul-General to Houston, Miguel Angel Fernández de Mazarambroz as reported by Houston Public Radio. In June 2025, Vanity Fair reported the arrival of Princess Leonor in New York, having completed her voyage aboard the Juan Sebastián de Elcano from the port of Cadiz to a fanfare of waiting media and Royal Household staff. During its four-day stay in Galveston, the Juan Sebastián de Elcano will be open to the public on the following dates: Friday, May 29, 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday, May 30: 3:30 to 7 p.m.
Sunday, May 31: 3:20 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Monday, June 1: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.www.houstonchronicle .com/news/houston-te xas/trending/article /juan-sebasti-n
This is so cool!