The Amerigo Vespucci, be ninety years old and don't prove it. With the awareness that it was still the "most beautiful ship in the world" as the American aircraft carrier USS Independence, which had crossed it while sailing in the Mediterranean Sea, defined it back in 1962. The aircraft carrier had asked the ship to identify itself with the beacon. "Amerigo Vespucci Italian Navy training shipWas the reply. "The most beautiful ship in the world, You are the most beautiful ship in the world”The reply, and the compliment, of the Americans. It is still so.

Amerigo Vespucci off the coast of Genoa

The historic sailing ship Amerigo Vespucci is the oldest unit, but above all the pride, of the Marina Militare Italian. An excellence and a symbol of our country in the world, the sailing ship has sailed all the seas of the globe carrying high the name of Italy and its great seafaring tradition. The unmistakable profile of the Vespucci, wherever it sails and in any port it docks, always attracts thousands of people to admire the military ship but also the Italian style of this beautiful sailing ship.

The spectacular sailing ship is a training center for the officers of the Italian Navy

The Amerigo Vespucci celebrates its first ninety years in these days. It had been launched in February 1931, in the nautical establishments of Castellamare di Stabia. Regia Nave Scuola of the then Kingdom of Italy, like its twin Cristoforo Colombo (three years older) had been designed by the engineer and lieutenant colonel of the Naval Engineers, Francesco Rotundi, who at the time was also director of the Castellamare shipyards. Three vertical masts, 24 sails, 264 crew members to which are added, periodically, a hundred women and men (students and support staff) of the Naval Academy because the Amerigo Vespucci is the training center of all the officers of Marina.

Vespucci in New Zealand

On the Vespucci the students have their first boarding experience during the summer at the end of their first year at the Academy. The length of the ship is 82 meters but, between the extreme stern and the end of the bowsprit, it reaches 101 meters. The maximum width is 15 and a half meters. The internal structure is in wood, the hull is covered with nailed steel. The figurehead, at the bow, represents the figure of the famous navigator whose name the ship bears. Equipped with diesel and electric engines, it can reach a speed of 10 knots, corresponding to almost 19 kilometers per hour.

Original torch bearer for the Rome Olympics

The historical stages of this spectacular sailing ship remind us that Amerigo Vespucci was present at the return of the city of Trieste to Italy in 1954. And when the Rome Olympics were held in 1960, it was Amerigo Vespucci who transported the Olympic torch from Piraeus to Syracuse . In 1968 he sailed up the Thames to get to London. The Amerigo Vespucci has sailed the seas all over the world. There are many educational campaigns - more or less short - in the Mediterranean Sea, many in Northern Europe, four in the eastern Atlantic and seven in North America, one in South America.

Amerigo Vespucci off the coast of Livorno

Two within the one circumnavigation of the globe, carried out between May 2002 and September 2003, a period in which the ship was involved in the activities connected with the 2003 America's Cup edition in New Zealand. The pandemic did not stop, but only changed, its activities. In 2020 the ship, which had to cancel 18 months of navigation for the planned round the world "Italy under full sail", did not stop in port and could not receive visits on board, however, it sailed along the Italian coasts.

Amerigo Vespucci has also been UNICEF ambassador since 2007

There are 122 commanders who have alternated on board from 1931 to today, currently it is the captain of the vessel Gianfranco Bacchi. In a recent interview with the Adnkronos agency, the commander recalled the over 800 miles traveled since then. “We have come a long way, or rather, of water since that day… we have sailed all the seas of the world, baptized thousands of cadet officers of the Naval Academy of Livorno. I am the 122nd commander. And there were thousands of professional figures on board. People have passed by on this wonderful ship, with pride ".

A great Italian pride for this queen of the seas who since 2007 has also been nominated Goodwill Ambassador of Unicef during a solemn ceremony in the port of Genoa. "Not who begins but what perseveres" (aphorism attributed to Leonardo Da Vinci) is the motto of this unique sailing ship in the world. As if to say, never give up.

Ninety years of Amerigo Vespucci, the queen of the seas last edit: 2021-02-26T12:30:00+01:00 da Cristina Campolonghi

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