29 March, 2022 by Juan Carlos Díaz Lorenzo

The Navy Remembers the Role of Tenerife in the Elcano Expedition

As planned, the training ship “Juan Sebastián de Elcano” approached the coast of Santa Cruz de Tenerife this afternoon, where it sailed moderately for about six hours – nearly four of them in a meeting at sea sheltered by Anaga with the BAM “Rayo” – thus evoking the historical fact of the first port of call of the Magellan-Elcano expedition on September 30, 1519, in a feat that would culminate in the first circumnavigation in history, which is now celebrating its 500th anniversary.

This historical milestone was previously highlighted in the hangar of the BAM “Rayo” by retired naval captain Luis García Rebollo, an expert on the Magellan-Elcano expedition, in a talk where he detailed the main milestones of the expedition for which Santa Cruz de Tenerife is recognized as part of the World Network of Magellanic Cities.

Upon leaving the Tenerife port on its journey to Gran Canaria, the catamaran “Volcán de Tagoro” altered its course to meet the training ship “Juan Sebastián de Elcano,” with which it exchanged greetings of welcome to Tenerife, while the BAM “Rayo” – flying the flag of the admiral commander of the Naval Command of the Canary Islands, CA Lago Ochoa – approached on the starboard side with a group of guests on board.

As reported, the training ship “Juan Sebastián de Elcano” is currently on its 94th training cruise, the third and final consecutive voyage scheduled as part of the commemorative events for the 500th Anniversary of the First Circumnavigation of the World that took place between 2020 and 2022.