"America's Tall Ship" Eagle sailing to Portland, Maine with Tall Ships 2015

[The Patriot]

SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine – Coast Guard Cutter Eagle will be visiting Portland for the Tall Ships Portland 2015 event.

Eagle is scheduled to arrive in Portland as part of the Parade of Sail on Saturday, July 18 at approximately 2 p.m., and will moor at the Ocean Gateway Terminal with 230 cadets and crew as part of its summer training program.

Eagle will host free public tours on Sunday, July 19, and Monday, July 20, beginning at 10 a.m. till sunset.

Cameras, water bottles, and purses will be allowed, but large bags and backpacks are not permitted aboard the ship.

Known as “America’s Tall Ship,” Eagle is the largest tall ship flying the U.S. Flag and the only square-rigger in U.S. government service. Eagle was built in 1936 by the Blohm and Voss Shipyard in Hamburg, Germany, and originally commissioned as the Horst Wessel by the German Navy. Following World War II, the ship was taken by the United States as a war reparation, recommissioned as the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Eagle, and sailed to its current homeport in New London, Connecticut. With more than 23,500 square feet of sail and six miles of rigging, the Eagle has served as a classroom at sea for future Coast Guard officers since 1946, offering an at-sea leadership and professional development experience.

“We are excited to host Eagle and participate in Tall Ships Portland 2015,” said Lt. Scott McCann, public affairs officer at Coast Guard Sector Northern New England. “We take pride in our service and missions. This is a great opportunity for the public to see our tall ship and learn more about our service.”

Eagle will arrive in Portland following a 12-day voyage from Bermuda.

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