By :Raul Villa Caro
Secretario de la Fundación “EXPONAV”
Probably the most interesting thing about this training ship, built at the “Echevarrieta y Larrinaga” shipyards in Cádiz in 1928, is its official name: “Juan Sebastián de Elcano (JSdE).” This is the name given to the navigator from Guetaria in official documents. There was also a civilian ship belonging to the Trasatlántica company called the “JSE,” built around the same time.
Without getting into controversy, as there are several theories, it seems that this sailor frequently signed his name as “Joan Sebastián delcano,” although in his will he wrote his name as “Juan Sebastián del Cano.” In any case, in history he is commonly known as “Juan Sebastián Elcano.” To conclude this first section, it should be noted that the Basque toponym “Elkano” also exists.
Almost a Centennial, with Calls in More than Seventy Countries
This brig-schooner, whose sails were designed by the English designer Nicholson, was launched on March 5, 1927, and delivered to the Navy on August 17, 1928, the year in which it began its first training cruise. Therefore, in two years, the celebration of its centennial will begin
Throughout its operational life, the training ship has visited more than seventy different countries. On this 17th Training Cruise, the Navy sailing vessel departed with 76 students belonging to the 427th class of the General Corps (future second lieutenants) and the 157th class of the Marine Infantry (future lieutenants). The latter, in a smaller proportion, number 13.
She stopped sailing in 1937, 1938 and 1939 due to the Civil War, and in 1956 and 1978 due to major careening works. However, there were years in which two cruises were carried out, so her lifespan (97) practically coincides with the number of training cruises carried out.
The Purpose
Its main purpose is to provide at-sea training for future Navy officers, the midshipmen (GGMM). To this end, it carries out an annual six-month training cruise (with approximately 150 days at sea) during which GGMMs in their third year (out of five) at the Marín Naval Military School spend a semester.
Four sections and 130 frames
The ship is divided into four large watertight sections. The first extends from the stem (bow) to the watertight bulkhead (WB) of frame 86. The second extends from the WB of frame 86 to that of frame 58. The third extends from the WB of frame 58 to approximately frame 40, and the fourth extends from the WB of frame 40 to the bowsprit. The 130 frames, numbered from stern to bow, have a span (distance between frames) of 685 mm.
Act as an “embassy
Its additional function is to act as an “embassy,” highlighting Spain’s relations with the rest of the world. For this reason, in 2018 the “Juan Sebastián de Elcano” was recognized as “the best Spanish ambassador in the world” by the Academy of Diplomacy of the Kingdom of Spain.
The months on board during the training cruise are highly formative for the midshipmen. Exposure to the harsh sea and the often adverse weather conditions further harden them. Life aboard any ship is demanding for the entire crew, and for the midshipmen, it’s their first major voyage. The support of families from afar and the camaraderie on board are essential elements to strengthen their vocation.
