(Aug. 10) - The Italian Naval Training Ship Amerigo Vespucci - one of the world’s most spectacular tall ships and the last surviving three-decked square rigger - will be open to the public for two days at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, during a visit to Portsmouth Naval Base which started this morning. The Italian Ambassador to the UK, Alain Giorgio Maria Economides, will be onboard to welcome the crew. The Vespucci left the port of Livorno, Tuscany, on July 16th to begin the 78th training cruise of the Naval Academy Cadets. This year the traditional activity is taking place in the Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic Ocean and the English Channel, visiting the following ports: Portsmouth (UK) until August 13th; St. Malò (France) from August 15th to August 20th; Dublin (EIRE) from August 23rd to August 27th; Lisbon (Portugal) from September 4th to September 7th; Valencia (Spain) from September 14th to September 17th. The ship is due to return to Livorno on September 21st. “Amerigo Vespucci is a spectacular tall ship – said officials from the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard - and will be a wonderful sight as it enters Portsmouth. The Naval Base is delighted to be able to host such an historic vessel and I’m sure she will prove a popular attraction for visitors.” (red)

ABOUT THE AMERIGO VESPUCCI
The Vespucci is a sail ship with a diesel-electric propulsion system and exhibits, from bow to stern, three masts (the foremast, the main mast, the mizzen mast) equipped with yards and square sails, plus the bowsprit which functions as a fourth mast, for a total sail surface (24 sails) of proximally 2.800 square meters. The sails are sewn from a particular cloth named Olona (canapé thread, 2 to 4 millimetres thick). The Vespucci is one of the last sailing ships to manoeuvre the sails manually, using ropes made of natural fibres. It is equipped with 11 ship’s boats. Compounded of 278 members, the crew is considered the beating heart of the ship, divided in 16 officers, 72 Non Commissioned Officers and 190 sailors performing numerous roles and duties. When the Naval Academy Cadets and Support Staff embark the number increases up to proximally 480 units.