Antillean Sail
From 2 to 8 May, several historic training ships visited Curaçao as part of the Velas Curaçao Rendez-Vous 2026, the fifth edition of the international Velas Latinoamérica Regatta.
Salutes sounded, sailors sang their national anthems, the crowd on the quays applauded: accompanied by tug and pilot boats from the Curaçao Ports Authority, four tall ships sailed into the Anna Bay.
The ships
This year’s showpiece is the BAP Unión, the proud training ship of the Peruvian navy. It is known as one of the most modern and largest sailing ships in the world. The cross-rigged full-rigged ship has four masts, a steel hull and – including bowsprit – is 115.50 metres long. This makes it the largest sailing ship in Latin America and the second largest in the world. On board, the public will be guided through an exhibition about Peru, promoting its main products, culture and destination as a holiday destination.
From Spain, there is the Juan Sebastián de Elcano, the Spanish navy’s training ship and one of the most famous tall ships in the world. The four-masted topsail schooner is named after Spanish explorer Juan Sebastián Elcano, the first man to sail around the world. It serves as a sailing embassy for Spain and a floating school for naval cadets.
The ARC Gloria is the pride of the Colombian navy. The three-masted steel-hulled barque is known as one of the most colourful and welcoming vessels during international maritime events. While entering the port, cadets stood on the yards while singing the national anthem. The ship was built in Spain (Bilbao) and launched in 1968.
The Capitán Miranda is the training ship of Uruguay’s navy. Although it is the smallest of the four major foreign guests in Anna Bay this year, it is known as the most ‘swinging’. A three-masted topsail schooner, it was built in Spain in 1930 as a hydrographic survey ship. It was only in 1978 that she was converted into a sailing training ship
Many activities
This South American sailing regatta originated in 2010, commemorating 200 years of independence processes in Argentina and Chile. Since then, the event has taken place every four years on the Caribbean island in our kingdom.
The ships dock at the Mathey Wharf on Curaçao’s Anna Bay. In the background, the famous Juliana Bridge.
Velas week is full of activities. Defence and the Caribbean Coast Guard are present with demonstrations at sea and in the air. They are conducting an interception operation of a so-called go-fast and a SAR demonstration. This is done in cooperation with the Citro voluntary rescue organisation. The Marine Corps boat platoon and AW139 and NH90 helicopters will also be in action.
There is also a Defense & Security Village at the one of the wharves along the Anna Bay and the Royal Navy public can also visit Zr.Ms. Friesland and the Coast Guard cutterJaguar. For children, there are activities such as an obstacle course and a Royal Navy climbing tower. In the evening, the foreign sailing giants are attractively illuminated.
Sources text and image: Schuttevaer, Marius Bremmer (subscribers only), Curacao.nu , Knipselkrant Curacao and Hofi Sint Joris.