The Ships at Tide Point:
| Ship | Country | Size and rigging | History and purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARA Libertad | Argentina | Approximately 340 feet long; three-masted, full-rigged sailing ship | Built at Argentina’s Río Santiago Shipyard. Its maiden voyage was in 1961. It trains Argentine naval cadets and serves as a goodwill ambassador worldwide. |
| Amerigo Vespucci | Italy | Approximately 329 feet long; three-masted, full-rigged sailing ship | Launched in 1931 and named for explorer Amerigo Vespucci. Based in La Spezia, it trains Italian naval cadets. Its rigging rises approximately 172 feet above the water. |
| Juan Sebastián de Elcano | Spain | Approximately 371 feet long; four-masted topsail schooner | Launched in 1927 and delivered to the Spanish Navy in 1928. Named for the navigator who completed the first circumnavigation of the globe, it trains future Spanish naval officers. |
Thank you all for making Sail250 a fantastic event for Locust Point. Without Dave and the Sail250 Committee and all the volunteers, it would have been a very different experience for our visitors and our community.
During Baltimore’s June 2026 celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, Tide Point became an international maritime showcase. Argentina’s ARA Libertad, Italy’s Amerigo Vespucci, and Spain’s Juan Sebastián de Elcano brought their impressive masts, historic craftsmanship, and naval traditions to our waterfront, placing Locust Point at the heart of this extraordinary event.
Free public ship tours offered visitors the opportunity to step aboard these remarkable vessels, meet their crews, and learn about life at sea. These ships serve as working classrooms for naval cadets, carrying their countries’ maritime heritage around the world. Their presence at Tide Point connected our neighborhood’s waterfront with a much larger story of exploration, education, and international friendship.
Welcoming an event of this scale into a residential neighborhood takes thoughtful coordination and a strong commitment to the people who live here. Your work helped Locust Point welcome visitors while keeping our community’s needs in focus. Beyond the beautiful ships and memorable photographs, Sail250 demonstrated what dedicated people can accomplish together and gave us something to be proud of.
