The training ship ‘Juan Sebastián de Elcano’ pays tribute to Blas de Lezo

Midshipmen from the Spanish Navy training ship ‘Juan Sebastián de Elcano’ paid tribute to Blas de Lezo before his statue set up near San Felipe Castle in Cartagena de Indias (Colombia). In this city one of the most glorious episodes of our naval history took place, when Blas de Lezo defeated a formidable and outnumbering British squadron.

In the course of a simple but poignant ceremony, Colombian and Spanish midshipmen accompanied by the Spanish Ambassador in Colombia, the Superintendent of the Colombian Naval Academy and the ship’s Commanding Officer, participated in a wreath laying ceremony on the occasion of the 325th anniversary of Blas de Lezo’s birth date.

This is the 20th time the ‘Juan Sebastián de Elcano’ calls at Cartagena de Indias. The ship had departed 23 days earlier from Praia (Cape Verde) sailing with favorable Trade Winds and no storms.

During her stay in port coinciding with the Holy Week, midshipmen and crew members participated in several social, cultural and sports activities including a guided visit to the Cartagena Training Center located in the old and central Saint Dominic Monastery.

The ‘Juan Sebastián de Elcano’ is currently sailing towards Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) where she is scheduled to arrive on April 24th.