The NRP Sagres

The NRP Sagres is a Portuguese Naval training ship built in 1937

The NRP Sagres serves as a training ship for naval cadets and provides hands-on experience in seamanship, navigation, and other aspects of maritime training. The ship has a distinctive appearance, characterized by its white sails emblazoned with red crosses on three masts and traditional rigging.

The ship was originally built in 1937 in Germany and was named the Albert Leo Schlageter. After World War II, it was acquired by Brazil as war reparations and renamed Guanabara. Portugal later acquired the ship in 1961 and renamed it Sagres after the town of Sagres in the Algarve region. The NRP Sagres also serves as a goodwill ambassador for the Portuguese Navy, participating in various international events and tall ship regattas.

The NRP Sagres is instantly recognizable by the red cross that appears on the ships white sails. The red cross is the emblem of the Order of Christ, a Portuguese honorific order that traces its origins back to the medieval Knights Templar. The emblem consists of a red cross pattée on a white background. This distinctive cross has historical and cultural significance for Portugal and is closely associated with the country's maritime history. The Order of Christ was established in the 14th century to succeed the Templars in Portugal after they were disbanded. The order played a crucial role in the Age of Discoveries, supporting maritime exploration and navigation. Infante Dom Henrique (Prince Henry the Navigator), a key figure in Portugal's maritime expansion during the 15th century, was a grand master of the Order of Christ.

So the red cross is a tribute to the role played by Portuguese explorers in the Age of Discoveries, who were instrumental in establishing maritime trade routes and making significant contributions to global exploration during the 15th and 16th centuries.

The NRP Sagres is built from steel and is a barque-rigged vessel. It is approximately 89 meters (292 feet) long and a displacement of around 1,755 tons. The ship is equipped with a variety of sails and has a cruising speed under sail of around 10 knots.

NRP stands for "Navio da República Portuguesa" in Portuguese, which translates to "Ship of the Portuguese Republic" in English. Ships of the Portuguese Navy typically carry the prefix "NRP" followed by their specific names.

The NRP Sagres frequently participates in tall ship races and maritime festivals around the world. It has become a recognizable and respected vessel on the international stage.