A Spectacular Day Touring the Tallship Danmark!
On June 5th, we had the incredible privilege of touring the historic Danish naval training vessel, the Danmark, during its scheduled stop right here in Ponta Delgada. This magnificent steel tall ship crosses the Atlantic three times a year on training missions funded by the Danish government.
A few fascinating facts from our tour:
- A Rich History: Built in 1932, the ship spent WWII in the USA. Its presence actually inspired the US Coast Guard to acquire their own famous tall ship, The Eagle (which we’ve been lucky enough to board many times!).
- Life at Sea: We explored every deck, including the engine room, and even caught the trainees having their afternoon meal.
- Cozy Quarters: The crew demonstrated how they set up their nightly hammocks. Talk about tight quarters—each cadet gets just about 16 inches of space!
- The Voyage: Operated by the civilian merchant marine company Martec, the 77-meter ship carries 15 professional crew members and 80 cadets on a grueling 3-month journey, crossing the Atlantic twice.
I was lucky enough to get an exclusive tour from its former Chief Mate (and fellow "pirate" crew member!), Nadja Nitschke. Hands down, this was the best tall ship tour I have ever experienced. Just another reason why we love the vibrant maritime culture here in the Azores!
