The mainsails are being hoisted today on El Galeon because it begins its historic Viva Florida 500 Voyage on a route almost like Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon ‘s 500 years ago. His arrival marked the start of a eu presence in what’s now the U. S. mainland and Florida.
El Galeon is a 170 foot, 495 ton, authentic wooden replica of a galleon that was portion of Spain’s West Indies fleet. It can take El Galeon about 10 days to head from Puerto Rico to Florida where the Viva Florida 500 Voyage will include call on ports in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Cape Canaveral and St. Augustine beginning April 15 and culminating June 3, as portion of the state’s Quincentenary commemorations.
The ship’s decks could be open to public visits during her stay in each port. Visitors could have the danger to be told concerning the history that began 500 years ago while admiring the craftsmanship and grandeur of those galleons that reached Florida’s coast centuries ago.