Magellan’s Tall Ship en Route

NEWBURYPORT — The replica of a ship that circumnavigated the globe 800 years ago will spend 10 days next month berthed at the waterfront as part of the Custom House’s Newburyport Maritime Days.
The original Nao Trinidad, a 200-ton Tall Ship, sailed around the world between 1519 and 1522, almost exactly 800 years ago, as the flagship of Capt. Ferdinand Magellan’s expedition to open trade routes to the East Indies.
Built by Fundación Nao Victoria, the ship will arrive on the Merrimack River waterfront on June 29. It will depart July 9.
Considered the greatest maritime feat in history, Magellan’s expedition set sail from Seville, Spain on Aug. 10, 1519, crossed the Atlantic, sailed along the coast of South America, discovered the Strait of Magellan and crossed the Pacific Ocean for the first time in history.
The expedition opened new trade routes, connected continents and oceans and changed the histories of numerous countries including Brazil, Argentina, the Philippines and Indonesia
After more than two years at sea and with the fatigue of sailing thousands of nautical miles, the Trinidad sprang a huge leak in its hull, preventing it from returning to Spain from the Moluccas.
Magellan was killed in battle in the Philippines.
The original Trinidad was destroyed in the Moluccas. Its companion, the Victoria, completed the first around the world sail with Juan Sebastián Elcano in command.
The Maritime Days has hosted four tall ships, starting in 2016 with the 17th century Spanish galleon replica of Nao Victoria’s El Galeon. It was followed by the schooners Adventure and Alabama out of Gloucester, and in 2019, the Nao Santa Maria, another Nao Victoria replica.
The public can tour the ship as part of the Maritime Days, a fundraiser for the Custom House, sponsored by Rochester Electronics. The ship is expected to attract tall ship enthusiasts, as the El Galeon, did.
Public tours will be held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., July 1 through July 9. Tickets are $35 for a family of two adults and three children, $15 for adults and $5 for children 5-12 (under 5 are free). Visit newburyportmaritimedays.com to buy tickets.