Juan Sebastian de Elcano

New Years Treat!

Sail San Francisco has arranged to host a Spanish Navy training ship, the Juan Sebastian del Elcano. He (in many Latin countries vessels are considered masculine and referred to as "he") is a full 4 masted top-sail schooner with square-rigged foremast. Avast ye hardies! Ship Ahoy! Guided by naval attaché' Capitan Francisco Gil de Sola and captained by Capitan Santiago Bolibar, he carries 275 crew members from Spain to meet and greet as they arrive on December 28th to January 2nd, 2003.

Juan Sebastian de Elcano was built in Bilbao, Spain. She was launched March 5th, 1927 and delivered to the Spanish Navy on August 17, 1928. At the time she cost 8,189,532 pesetas. She was built with an iron hull and rigging consisting of 20 sails with a total surface area of 3,153 meters.

This is Juan's ninth circumnavigation and it's 70th voyage. This will be her 9th month in a 16 month cruise. San Francisco is her fifth port of call. Juan will be arriving from Balboa, Panama. His next stop will be Honolulu, Hawaii. San Francisco last saw his sails in 1991.