NORFOLK — The Colombian Navy sail training tall ship ARC Gloria is scheduled to arrive in Downtown Norfolk, docking at Otter Berth in between Town Point Park and Waterside District on Sept. 18.
The ARC Gloria’s last visit to Norfolk was part of the OpSail 2012 Virginia fleet. The ship will depart Sept. 21.
Norfolk is the only U.S. port call for the ship’s 2018 sail training tour, according to a news release from Festevents.
The public is invited to tour the ship Sept 19 – Sept. 21, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Built in 1966, in Bilbao, Spain, as a training vessel for 134 officers, cadets, and crew sailing aboard, Gloria teaches cadets star navigation, seamanship, and leadership.
Soaring at nearly 300 feet, with three masts and 22 sails, the Colombian flagships’ namesake pays tribute to the National Anthem of Colombia: “Oh Gloria Inmarcesible.”
The sailing vessel hosts guided tours and shares information about its host country, Colombia, during its stays around the globe.
Since she was built, Gloria has visited 180 ports in 70 different countries serving as goodwill ambassador of Colombia to the world during its 52 years of history. During guided tours, Gloria will share information about the vessel and its mission, as well as education about Colombia.
Gloria carries up to 150 midshipmen and officers.
The ARC Gloria in a nut shell:
- History: The training tall ship, ARC Gloria, was built in 1966 for the Colombian Navy in the Celaya shipyards in Bilbao, Spain. She is one of four windjammers built by Bilbao shipyards (the other ships include: the Cuautemoc for Mexico, the Guaya for Ecuador, and the Simon Bolivar for Venezuela). The Colombian flagships’ namesake pays tribute to the National Anthem of Colombia: “Oh Gloria Inmarcesible.”
- Homeport: Categena, Colombia
- Overall length: 249’ 4”
- Rig: Barque
- Rig Height: 126’ 4”
