The School Ship NRP Sagres will visit the Atlantic East Coast, between May 28 and June 14, on a mission dedicated to young Americans and Canadians of Portuguese heritage who will be allowed to board the vessel.

As part of the commemorations of the Day of Portugal, celebrated worldwide on June 10, the program is open to female and male Portuguese heritage participants, between the ages of 15 and 25, resident in the USA and Canada.

Those interested must submit an application to the Marinheiros da Diáspora [Sailors of the Diaspora] website. Deadline is May 6.

Applicants will be selected by a public draw to be held on May 10. The winners will be contacted immediately. Participation has no cost.

Winners will be offered the opportunity to embark aboard the Sagres School Ship for short trips (one, two or three days) at sea. They may choose one of four tours: (1) Filadélfia, PA to Manhattan, NY (28 a 30 May); (2) Bayonne, NJ to Newport, RI (3 a 4 July); (3) Newport, RI to Boston, MA (7 a 9 June); and (4) Boston, MA to Halifax, Canadá (14 a 17 June).

A group of 30 participants (12 of them female) will participate in each trip, accompanied by a monitor /supervisor for the group. Applicants under the age of 18 need parental consent to participate. For more information applicants should contact the Portuguese Consulate in their area of residence.

The program is designed to provide maritime and living on board experience on the ex-libris of the Portuguese Navy and symbol of Portugal.

The young guests will have the opportunity to participate in exercises and other activities on board, as well as to acquire basic knowledge about seafaring and the sea.

The NRP Sagres is a tall ship and school ship of the Portuguese Navy since 1961. As the third ship with this name in the Portuguese Navy, she is sometimes referred to as Sagres III.

paj.staff

Source (in Portuguese): Marinheiros da Diáspora