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Esmeralda sails by
By Keeli Cambourne
Volume 50, No. 12, July 12, 2007 |
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It was a scene you could imagine from a century ago.
A majestic ship, its four tall masts silhouetted against an ominous black sky, sails rolled.
The Chilean training vessel Esmeralda was visiting Sydney last month after an earlier stopover at HMAS Cresswell in Jervis Bay. The 100m, 54-year-old ship may look like an old lady of the sea, but inside the riveted steel hull is a mix of modern science and yesteryear gentility.
Wooden decks and brass fittings abound but so to do computer equipment, satellite link-ups and radar. “This is the university of the sea,” the ship’s commanding officer, Captain Humberto Ramirez Navarro, said.
And indeed it is that. The White Lady, as Esmeralda is affectionately known, has a crew of 300 – including 24 international officers from countries including Mexico, Colombia, Singapore, China, Korea, Venezuela, US and Australia. They joined 24 Chilean officers, 151 sailors, and 50 midshipman onboard Esmeralda to learn about the traditions of sailing and the Chilean navy.
“On this ship they have close contact with the sea, and learn how to sail as the older generation of sailors did and we can instil the same traditions and values in them,” CAPT Navarro said.
This is Esmeralda’s 52nd such voyage since she was officially launched in June 1954.
Sailing under the power of the wind is preferred and at 6am each day the crew climb the masts to prepare the sails, which are taken down only at 5.30pm. They navigate by the stars where they can. |
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