European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 21, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sailors aboard the Schooner Juan Sebastian de Elcano climb into position before coming to attention in preparation for the arrival of Spain s King Juan Carlos. "1 a 1 v i a a a sask miss l95�jt? s 5 m v4 v Ltd a a. A. A ii  pleasure crafts escort the Juan Sebastian out of the Cadiz Harbor. With sails unfurled several tall ships and some smaller sailing vessels make their Way into the Gulf of Cadiz. Tall ships follow Columbus Lead by j. Kin Cruger Mediterranean Bureau with acres of billowing White sails a huge Armada of ghosts from the past is scuttling across the Atlantic Ocean. The sailing ships a brigs and Brigantine barks and barkentine schooners cutters Ketches and sloops a make up one of the grandest windjammer fleets assembled in years. Two dozen of the vessels Are classic three and four masted Square riggers with Sticks soaring nearly 200 feet into the heavens and with Overall lengths of around 350 feet. The ships Are racing to America to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the historic voyage to the new world by Christopher Columbus. The regatta started from Columbus Hometown of Genoa Italy and picked up competitors in Spain the nation that sponsored Columbus explorations. After stops in san Juan puerto Rico new York and Boston the Fleet will re Cross the Atlantic working its Way up the coast of Spain and France before winding up in Liverpool England in August. The Armada which will fluctuate in size during its journey had grown to nearly 200 ships when it left Cadiz Spain on its Way West earlier this month. Several Hundred thousand Well wishers cheered the ships of 40 nations As they moved slowly out of the Southern Spanish port after a Royal Send off by Spain s King Juan Carlos. Nearly All the ships taking part in the regatta Are engaged in sail training and Are being sent by the world s navies merchant Marine academies Marine museums and private owners. They Are continuing a tradition started in 1956, when the first sail training race was held in British Waters. The idea behind it was to gather All the great sailing ships still being used for sail training to give the world a nostalgic nudge toward saving the ships before the huge Graceful vessels vanished forever those efforts and others have been so successful that Square riggers Are still being built. Among the tall ships sure to draw oohs and aah from the admiring crowds at the various ports of Call Are the Esmeralda a 353-foot four masted barkentine from Chile Italy s 333-foot Amerigo Vespucci Spain s four masted Topsail Schooner Juan Sebastian de Elcano and others from such countries As Colombia Germany Poland and Portugal. The former soviet Union is represented by some of the largest vessels including Krusenstjern and Sedov the biggest Square rigger afloat with its 44,000 Square feet of sail the tall ship Tova Tishch is one of several from the former soviet Union in the regatta. 14 stripes Magazine May 21, 1992 the Esmeralda from Chile cuts an impressive figure As it glides toward the open sea. A amps photos by Gary Miller May 21, 1992 stripes Magazine is