Four Master Visits Curaçao
May 7, 2006  | Curaçao

WILLEMSTAD - The four-master Juan Sebastián de Elcano put on port in Willemstad, Curaçao at the invitation of Curaçao Sail on May 3rd, 2006.

The 79 year old ship is one of only three tall ships in the world with four masts. This magnificent top-sail schooner with square rigged foremast has circumnavigated the globe many times, but this is her first vist to Curaçao.




Welcoming party with the ship's Lead Officer onshore, from L-R: LO R van Mierlo, Jan Koning, Jacob Gelt Dekker, Germaine de Jongh-Hart, Lucky Ezechiëls, Vice-Consul Omar van der Dijs, LO D. de Beurs.



The Juan Sebastian de Elcano was built in Spain in 1927 and delivered to the Spanish Navy in 1928. She has an iron hull and a rigging consisting of 20 sails with a total surface area of 3,153 meters.



A Gala evening was held aboard the vessel Wednesday evening, and Jacob Gelt Dekker hosted a reception for the Officers and crew at Kurá Hulanda Thursday evening, and a day of activities at Lodge Kurá Hulanda and beach Club at Wespunt on Friday.

On Saturday, May 6th, the Curaçao Sail Foundation sponsored an event for the public. The Foundation also arranged an activity programme for the 225 crew members of the Juan Sebastián the Elcano.

The schooner departed Curaçao late in the afternoon of Sunday, May 7th.

The island of Curaçao celebrated its 500th anniversary in 1999 and that year's greatest event, Sail Curaçao 500 was part of the year round celebrations. Although it was the first time such an event was organized, it was a huge success for the crews of the participants, the "ARC Gloria" (Colombia) and the "ARV Simón Bolívar", as well as for our local people.

During those days Curaçao and our harbour were in the spotlight, showing the enthusiasm of our naval visitors joining that of our local people and emphasizing our close link with the sea throughout our history.

Based on this experience, the Curaçao Sail Foundation was established in 2000 in order to promote the interest in traditional and tall ships especially among the youth - by organizing international maritime events. At the same time our mandate is to promote our harbour in the center of Willemstad our World Heritage capital. In June 2002 the Foundation brought Americas Sail to the island and in March 2004 the Mollendo of the Peruvian Navy with an 389-man crew visited Curaçao. The Curaçao Sail Foundation is supported, in part , by the JADE Foundation and Kura Hulanda.

For more information, please visit our website www.curacaosail.com