A full-sized replica of Ferdinand Magellan’s flagship, Nao Trinidad, arrived at the St. Augustine Municipal Marina in February and plans to remain in port until March 31, offering tours from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.
The 200-ton ship measures 93 feet in length, 26 feet in width, with a 10-foot draft and 80 feet from waterline to the top of the main mast. It was completed in 2018 in Huela, Spain, by master carpenters.
“Most of the ship is built of wood,” said project manager Brenda Parra. “We also have some fiberglass. The masts are made of steel, just for safety reasons.”
The wood is primarily iroko, from Africa, which is a very hard wood that resists decay, and therefore insects.
The current crew consists of five professionals and five volunteers.
“The original Magellan crew was about 50 men, so it was way more crowded,” Parra said.
On its first outing, the ship sailed around Spain, France and Portugal and visited ports in Italy. It arrived in the Western Hemisphere just as COVID-19 struck and had to return to Spain. Two years ago, it set out again and sailed to ports up and down the East Coast, as well as the Great Lakes.
Admission is $15 for adults, $5 for children and $35 for a family of four or more. Tickets can be purchased on the dock and online at tickets.velacuadra.es/selection/timeslotpass?productId=10229189661463.
The marina is located at 111 Avenida Menendez.
“We hope we have a lot of visitors and people come and enjoy the ship,” said Parra. “We’re more than happy to be here.”
