Esmeralda

Her keel was laid to the order of the Spanish Navy in 1946, the project beginning under the name Juan de Austria. Severe fire damage at the yard delayed her completion; she was finally launched in 1953, completed afloat and put into service for the Chilean Navy in 1954 as Esmeralda.

Her sister ship is the Juan Sebastián de Elcano; the difference lies in the rig, where the forward gaff sail is replaced by numerous staysails, which makes her a barquentine, the remaining sails being rigged in the typical schooner manner.

She is a training ship for the navy and the merchant marine and a goodwill ambassador for her country, covering long distances each year and frequently visiting Europe, North America and the Far East.

She took part in the Tall Ships Race to New York in 1964 and 1976, the Osaka sailing festival in 1983, the New York Operation Sail in 1986, the 1992 Columbus Regatta, the 1997 Hamburg harbour anniversary and the Tall Ships 2000 events on the American Atlantic coast.

She is named after a ship that distinguished herself in 1879 in the saltpetre war, which Chile fought against Peru and Bolivia.