The Sagres School Ship docked this Wednesday, in Faro. Unobtrusively, under a cloudy sky and some raindrops, the ship entered the bar. Faro-Olhão at sunrise and followed the motor to the Commercial Pier in Faro, where he arrived around 7:00 am.
This is the Portuguese Navy's first visit to the Algarve's capital, where it will stay until Saturday, September 8th.
Perhaps due to the early hour, few people accompanied the short trip of the NRP Sagres through the Ria Formosa.
In addition to two tugboats, detached to accompany the entry of the sailboat into the bar and its journey to the port – just in case -, the Portuguese Navy School Ship was only escorted by the Caravela Boa Esperança, which also docked in Faro, and by about a dozen small boats, including two sailboats and some fishing boats.
Even so, there was the pomp and circumstance that the occasion imposed and all protocol was followed, as is the custom of the Navy.
From 14:00 today, Wednesday, the ship will be open to visitors. The population will be able to get to know the NRP Sagres from the inside today, from 14:00 pm to 19:00 pm and from 20:00 pm to 22:00 pm, tomorrow, Thursday, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, from 14:00 pm to 19:00 pm and from 20:00 pm to 22:00 pm, and on Friday, the 7th of September, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 14:00 pm to 18:30 pm.
In parallel, other activities will take place at the Commercial Pier of the Port of Faro, which the population will be able to enjoy. For this Wednesday night, the 5th, at 21 pm, for example, there is a concert by «Riding the Meteor».
On Friday, September 7th, the municipal holiday of Faro, the formal session will take place at Cais Comercial, next to Sagres, from 9:10 am.
The NRP Sagres is a large 90 meter long sailing ship with three masts and a barge frame, built in the Blohm & Voss shipyards in Germany in 1937.
It celebrated 80 years in 2017, 55 of which with the Portuguese flag.
In addition to the instruction of the Escola Naval cadets, the NRP Sagres takes a little of Portugal to the Portuguese in the diaspora, contributing to the strengthening of ties between the communities and their origins.
In addition to the thousands of visitors it receives on board, in ports of call the NRP Sagres fulfills a vast program of dissemination and representation, also hosting various events promoted by the Navy partners associated with the voyages of the symbol of Portugal.
The training ship Sagres is commanded by Frigate Captain António Manuel Maurício Camilo, who has a garrison of 127 soldiers for this mission, who are joined by 57 Naval Academy cadets.
Photos and video: Hugo Rodrigues | Sul Informação
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