Spanish tall ship Juan Sebastián de Elcano returns to Pensacola March 31 and will host free tours through Thursday, April 4. The "Elcano," as she is known, is the third largest tall ship in the world, a magnificent four mast brig-schooner weighing 3,770 tons. Considered by her native country to be a "floating embassy,"  the Elcano's main mission is to train future Spanish Navy officers in navigation and seafaring procedures and techniques. Her most important task is to immerse midshipmen, in their fourth academic year, in continuous and intimate contact with the sea, an environment where they will later carry out their main professional activities. 

The ship’s home port is in ‘La Carraca’ Arsenal (San Fernando – Cádiz) where most Spanish Maritime Action Force units are based. This port is a station especially devoted to the maintenance and repair works of other naval units. The name ‘Carraca’ derives from the term used for an ocean-going boat – Carrack – much used in the 15th century.

Captain Ignacio Paz Garcia of Ferrol, La Coruña, Spain and his crew will sail the Elcano into Pensacola Sunday, March 31 at 9am to celebrate the 500th Anniversary of the beginning of the Magellan – Elcano Expedition, the first circumnavigation of the globe. This expedition ended under the leadership of Ferdinand Magellan’s captain, Spanish Sailor Juan Sebastian de Elcano.

The ship will be docked at NAS Pensacola, and free public tours will be offered Sunday, March 31 from 3-6:30 pm., Tuesday, April 2 from 1-6:30pm, Wednesday, April 3 from 1-6:30pm, as well as Thursday, April 4 from 3-6:30pm (tour dates and times subject to change). The Elcano will depart NAS Pensacola on April 5. 

[PHOTO CREDIT: http://www.armada.mde.es]