NEW LONDON, Conn. — The U.S. Coast Guard Barque Eagle (WIX 327), America’s Tall Ship is returning to New London, Connecticut, Thursday, Aug. 15 after completing its annual mission to train the future leaders of the service.
Media representatives are invited to ride aboard Eagle as it returns to its homeport and moors at Fort Trumbull. Those interested should RSVP to Coast Guard Academy Public Affairs at cga-public-affairs@uscga.edu by noon Tuesday, Aug. 13.
Participants will meet at Coast Guard Station New London, ride out to Eagle on a Coast Guard station boat, and board the tall ship for the transit to New London.
In the case that the ride-in is cancelled, media members are invited to cover Eagle’s return to homeport from the pier.
At 295 feet in length, Eagle is the largest tall ship flying the stars and stripes and the only active square-rigger in United States government service. Eagle has served as a classroom at sea to future Coast Guard officers since 1946, offering an at-sea leadership and professional development experience as part of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy curriculum.
Eagle is a three-masted barque with more than 22,300 square feet of sail and six miles of rigging. The cutter was constructed in 1936 by the Blohm and Voss Shipyard in Hamburg, Germany. Originally commissioned as the Horst Wessel by the German navy, Eagle was a war reparation for the United States following World War II.
Additional information about the Eagle can be found here. The Eagle's design dimensions can be found here.
For more information about Eagle, including port cities, tour schedules, and current events, follow the "United States Coast Guard Barque EAGLE" Facebook page or on Instagram @barqueeagle. All U.S. Coast Guard imagery is in the public domain and is encouraged to be shared widely.
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