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ARA Libertad (Q-2)
Encyclopedia
ARA Libertad (Q-2) is a tall ship
Tall ship
A tall ship is a large, traditionally-rigged sailing vessel. Popular modern tall ship rigs include topsail schooners, brigantines, brigs and barques. "Tall Ship" can also be defined more specifically by an organization, such as for a race or festival....
which serves as a school ship
School ship
A training ship is a ship used to train students as sailors. The term is especially used for ships employed by navies to train future officers. Essentially there are two types: those used for training at sea and old hulks used to house classrooms....
in the Argentine Navy
Argentine Navy
The Navy of the Argentine Republic or Armada of the Argentine Republic is the navy of Argentina. It is one of the three branches of the Armed Forces of the Argentine Republic, together with the Army and the Air Force....
. She was built in the 1950s at the Río Santiago Shipyard
Río Santiago Shipyard
The Rio Santiago Shipyard is a shipyard situated in the city of Ensenada, province of Buenos Aires, at the shores of the Santiago River. It has been one of the major active and important shipyards in Latin America. Founded in 1953, it has realized diverse functions in the naval, industrial and...
near La Plata
La Plata
La Plata is the capital city of the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and of La Plata partido. According to the , the city proper has a population of 574,369 and its metropolitan area has 694,253 inhabitants....
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. Her maiden voyage was in 1962, and she continues to be a school ship with yearly instruction voyages for the graduating naval cadets.
Specifications
Her main characteristics are: Length (including bowsprit): 103.75m; Beam: 14.31m; Draft: 6.60m; Displacement: 3765 Tonnes; Masts: 3; Crew: 357 souls (including 150 naval cadets).Rigging: Square rigged. Three masts (Fore, Main and Mizzen with boom) and bowsprit, with double topsails and 5 yardarms per mast, which can balance up to 45 degrees on each side. Five jibs are fixed to the bowsprit, the foremast has 5 square sails and two jibs, the mainmast has 5 square sails and 3 jibs and the mizzen has 5 square sails and a spanker. Sail area: 2.652 sq. metres; max. height of mainmast 56,2 metres.
Armament: Four Hotchkiss 47 mm cannons, 1891 model, which were transferred from the previous School Ship ARA Presidente Sarmiento
ARA Presidente Sarmiento
ARA Presidente Sarmiento is a museum ship, originally built as a training ship for the Argentine Navy. She is considered to be the last intact cruising training ship from the 1890s....
and are used as a salute battery.
History
She won the Boston Teapot TrophyBoston Teapot Trophy
The Boston Teapot Trophy is an international award given to the sail training vessel that covers the greatest distance within a 124 hour period.-References:*...
in 1966, 1976, 1981, 1987, 1992 and 1998
In 1966 she established the world record for transatlantic crossing (only sail navigation) between Cape Race (Canada) and Dursey Island (Ireland), 1741.4 nautical miles (3,225.1 km) in 6 days and 4 hours. The Commander of the ship was Commander Guillermo Franke, and the Boston Teapot was given away by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh is the husband of Elizabeth II. He is the United Kingdom's longest-serving consort and the oldest serving spouse of a reigning British monarch....
in name of Queen Elizabeth II, because she refused to do so, since the Captain's rank was not Admiral.
She participated in the celebrations of the United States Bicentennial
United States Bicentennial
The United States Bicentennial was a series of celebrations and observances during the mid-1970s that paid tribute to the historical events leading up to the creation of the United States as an independent republic...
on July 4, 1976 by sailing in parade, with many other tall ships from all over the world, on the Hudson River, in front of New York City in what was called Operation Sail
Operation Sail
Operation Sail refers to a series of sailing events held to celebrate special occasions and features sailing vessels from around the world. Each event is coordinated by Operation Sail, Inc., a non-profit organization established in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy and must be approved by the...
. Many spectators on the shores gave their backs to the ship, as well as to the Chilean Esmeralda, because these countries were then administered by dictatorships.
Mid-life overhaul
In April 2007 she underwent a general overhaul which includes the addition of facilities for female cadets and crew in line with current diversity policies in the Navy and the updating of the engines and navigation technology. During the year Libertad was under overhaul, Argentine cadets sailed on the Chilean NavyChilean Navy
-Independence Wars of Chile and Peru :The Chilean Navy dates back to 1817. A year before, following the Battle of Chacabuco, General Bernardo O'Higgins prophetically declared "this victory and another hundred shall be of no significance if we do not gain control of the sea".This led to the...
school ship Esmeralda (BE-43)
Esmeralda (BE-43)
Esmeralda is a steel-hulled four-masted barquentine tall ship of the Chilean Navy, currently the second tallest and longest sailing ship in the world.- Construction :The ship is the sixth to carry the name Esmeralda...