MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, March 28th 2024 - 18:06 UTC

 

 

Bicentennial Regatta largest display of naval tall ships in Punta Arenas

Monday, March 29th 2010 - 04:31 UTC
Full article
The frigates with sails unfurled docked in Punta Arenas (Photo:LPA) The frigates with sails unfurled docked in Punta Arenas (Photo:LPA)

The Bicentennial Regatta arrived over the weekend to Punta Arenas, extreme south of Chile after having crossed the Strait of Magellan.

Ten tall ships belonging to navies from Latinamerica, Spain and Portugal are currently docked in Punta Arenas as part of the event “South American Sails 2010” which took off January 31 from Rio do Janeiro and should end at the end of June in the Mexican port of Veracruz.

The event is jointly organized by the Argentine and Chilean navies in celebration of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Argentina and Chile to the world scenario following the dismembering of the Spanish colonial empire.

Chile’s ‘Esmeralda’ was the first to call in Punta Arenas and then hosted with a display of music and colour the other tall ships from Colombia, Argentina, Ecuador, Brazil, Venezuela, Uruguay, Mexico and Portugal with their sails unfurled. Spain’s Sebastián Elcano arrived last Thursday.

Thousands of Punta Arenas residents climbed to the nearby hill or lined up along the sea front for a privileged sight of the unique and wonderful display.

The reception protocol was quite intense since Punta Arenas was not only the first Chilean port for the Bicentennial Regatta but also because the Chilean program has been drastically limited.

The port of Talcahuano is non operational and even Valparaíso is in doubt following the intense damages suffered along the coast line because of the recent earthquakes and tsunamis.
The port protocol was followed by the official welcome from the city’s officials in Government House, next to Punta Arenas Cathedral. Governor Liliana Kusanovic congratulated each of the crews and for their successful crossing of the Magellan strait.

Ms Kusanovic said that the original plan was to have a “huge celebration party” but given the exceptional circumstances Chile is going through, “it will be an austere festivity, which does not mean we can’t extend our warmest wishes to all our distinguished visitors: welcome, this is your home”•
 

Categories: Politics, Latin America.

Top Comments

Disclaimer & comment rules

Commenting for this story is now closed.
If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page!