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Cuauhtemoc (Daily Breeze image) |
Visiting the Port of Los Angeles for the third time, the above ship is celebrating "The Year of Mexico in Los Angeles."
This windjammer is a Mexican Navy sail training vessel built in 1982 in Bilbao, Spain.
It is a steel-hulled, three-masted barque. Build with a single 1125hp diesel engine with a single shaft, allowing for speeds up to 10 knots.
On the average she carries 220 tons of fuel and 110 tons of fresh water. Due to the lack of space for a water purification system, she is limited to 45 days at sea before needing to resupply.
Its rig is over 16 stories high and carries 23 sails, over half an acre of cloth. It is 297 feet in length and weighs 1,800 tons.
Bearing the name of the last Aztec emperor, it has a large bright brass figurehead of Cuauhtemoc.
Her crew contains 9 senior officers, 44 officers, 43 cadets, 122 enlisted personnel and invited officers from foreign navies.
Some of the foreign navy patches we saw, included Guatemala, Ecuador, Brazil, Argentina, Peru and the United States.
They teach traditional nautical arts including astronomical navigation and magnetic compass as well as modern day navigation systems.
Translation: The School Ship "Cuauhtemoc" - The day of its flagging is born as Mexican, with the mission of exalting the sailor spirit of the future officers of the armada of Mexico and with the oath of its endowment of offering until its last effort to make it a worthy and noble cradle where it can continue to strengthen the minds and spirits of those who embark in their bosom. Pursuing the goal of education to better serve your country. The crew of the "Cuauhtemoc" school is prepared to transmit the message of friendship and good will of Mexico, as well as proudly fly the Mexican flag in the ports and seas of the world. H. Veracruz, Ver. 25 September 1982.
Emblems from some of the sailing events, in which they participated.
The stern was roped off, it looked like they were preparing for a VIP reception.
The person we spoke to, said they have a crew of 234 of which 13 are female. I just happen to catch all of them posing for a photo op.
We had trouble finding anyone who speaks English. First (below, on left) was an officer from Brazil who speaks English, Spanish and Portuguese. Then we found a US officer from Texas (on right).
We saw four different uniforms:
When we arrived there were men hanging off the bow polishing the figurehead (see below, right).
Notice all the bowed heads (above, left); everyone who wasn't entertaining guests was on their cell phone.
I had to ask the Texan what the white macrame lanyard meant.
It holds the whistle (bosun's pipe) used by the Petty Officer (usually three of them) who relay commands via whistle signals.
As we were leaving, I noticed several men stringing lights, I went back at sunset to see the results.
