Spanish sail training ship concludes 88th cruise

Midshipmen aboard the Spanish Navy’s training ship Juan Sebastián de Elcano concluded the 88th training cruise by docking in Cadiz, Spain, on Friday.

The purpose of these training cruises is to contribute to the nautical, military, social and human instruction of Spanish Navy midshipmen (future officers).

The training ship itself represents the state, promoting diplomatic relations while visiting different ports during her training cruises.

Sailors aboard the Juan Sebastián de Elcano visited Lisbon (Portugal), Las Palmas (Canary Islands), Praia (Cape Verde), Salvador de Bahía and Recife in Brazil, Dakar (Senegal), Santa Cruz de la Palma (Canary Islands) and Casablanca (Morocco), and sailed more than 9,000 nautical miles during the latest cruise.

Juan Sebastián de Elcano is a four-masted training schooner whose mission is to get midshipmen acquainted with first hand seafaring experience. During the cruise they continue with their 4th year studies on board, mainly with subjects related to navigation, astronomy, meteorology, maneuver and English language among others.