Corpus Christi’s Naval Station Ingleside will take on the appearance of an historic port of call as four tall sailing ships hailing from four countries in the Western Hemisphere arrive in early July. The ships range in size from the 205-foot staysail schooner Capitan Miranda from Uruguay to the 371-foot, four-masted barquentine Esmeralda from Chile. The other two historic ships are the 270-foot barque Cuahtémoc from Mexico and the 295-foot barque USCG Eagle from New London, Connecticut. Each ship serves in its respective country’s navy and is commissioned primarily for training sailors.
“We are very proud to bring the tall ship experience to the South Texas region in a larger scale than before.”
Corpus Christi will be the only stop in North America for the four ships, which will highlight an event called Sail South Texas, July 1-5. Sail South Texas celebrates three important milestones: The bicentennial of Latin American independence from Spain, the 234th anniversary of U.S. independence, and the return of the Naval Station Ingleside to the Port of Corpus Christi. This is the last stop for the ships, which represent a larger fleet that sailed around South America to celebrate that continent’s sovereignty.
“We are very proud to bring the tall ship experience to the South Texas region in a larger scale than before. Our community will have the opportunity to celebrate and learn not only about tall ships, but also about the countries they represent,” says Mike Carrell, Chairman of the Port Corpus Christi Commission.
The public is invited to take part in tours of the ships, demonstrations of naval traditions, fireworks each evening, food booths, and music by performers from Latin America and the United States. For more information, visit www.sailsouthtexas2010.com.
