This weekend me and the Betty Booty got a chance to enjoy a once in a lifetime experience. We got to board a Spanish boat! Not just any Spanish boat . . . but a beautiful, historic replica of the 17th Century Spanish Galleon. The Nao Victoria Foundation designed and developed this ship to create a functioning, traveling museum to share with the world. Read the information below about this beautiful boat that has sailed over 48,000 nautical miles (dang it . . . it travels more than we do!).
El Galeón is in Galveston, Texas as a part of the
“Tour of the Seven Seas” from April 13 – 23rd.
Hours are from 10 am to 7 pm at the Texas Seaport Museum, located at Pier 22, right next to our very own Elissa, which was named in 2005 by the Texas legislature as the “Official Tall Ship of Texas”. Built in 1877, it is one of only three 19th-century iron square-riggers in the World that continues to sail.
17th Century Spanish Galleon Replica. During a period longer than three centuries (16th to 18th), Galleons were the boats that took the lead role in the trade and cultural routes named the Indies fleets. These were the longest routes in length and also lasted longer than any other in navigation history.
El Galeon was built during 2009 to 2010 by the Nao Victoria Foundation. Designed and developed by Ignacio Fernández Vial at the Punta Umbria shipyard (Huelva, Spain), the boat was launched on November 30th, 2009 and then the masts were added at the beginning of 2010. El Galeon has covered more than 48,000 nautical miles between 2010 to 2016 along the world’s largest seas and oceans, visiting ports in four continents and participating in many cultural projects. El Galeon has sailed across the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans, as well as the Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea, the Southern China Sea, the Aegean Sea, the Bosporus Strait and the Caribbean Sea. So far, visitors have been able to step on her decks in almost hundred ports all over the world.
The Nao Victoria Foundation
The Nao Victoria Foundation is a non-profit entity specializes in promoting and spreading historical events, which are supported by the construction of historical ships (the Nao Victoria and El Galeón) that are sailed throughout the world’s ports. The vessels are a powerful, unique and very attractive marketing and educational platform that have been used successfully to support great world events during the last decade.
Our vessels have taken part in national and international expositions and events with great media exposure and publicity. The added value received includes:
- Serve as a powerful platform to disseminate and exhibit contents.
- Function as a great reach beacon.
- Have unique, innovative elements and a strong appeal both sailing and in-port.
- Reach prominent presence and impact through domestic and international media
- Receive exceptionally warm welcoming, plus institutional and diplomatic impact on every port of call.