STS "Akogare" World Sail 2000

At the dawn of a new millennium, STS "Akogare" started an east-bound circumnavigation via Europe, which was the first for a Japanese tall ship.

The ship departed Osaka on Sunday, April 9, 2000, and called at Honolulu, San Francisco, Panama, Boston, Halifax, and later crossing the Atlantic to Amsterdam, Le Havre, Lisbon, Barcelona, Piraeus, Muscat, and Singapore. She returned to Osaka on Monday, December 25, 2000, after covering 28,600 n.m. in 261 days. The Ship's Log reports the life at sea during this voyage

STS "Akogare" World Sail 2000 Schedule

Organizing Bodies of World Sail 2000

On the way, she will took recruited trainees on board from Osaka to Honolulu, Boston to Halifax and Halifax to Amsterdam for sail training. The passages from Boston to Amsterdam via Halifax were part of the largest and last tall ships race of the century - Tall Ships 2000, which enabled the young trainees to experience a friendly competition with various tall ships of the world. At the East Coast of North America, she joined Sail Boston 2000 and Tall Ships 2000 Halifax. In Amsterdam, Tall Ships 2000 came to an end. Sail 2000 Amsterdam welcomed all the participating tall ships, and a Parade of Sails followed by a Prize Awarding Ceremony. While in Amsterdam, "Akogare" also participated in events commemorating the 400th anniversary of relations between Japan and the Netherlands.

In San Francisco and Le Havre, France, sister port relationship ties with Osaka was promoted. In Lisbon, Barcelona and Muscat, Oman, she paid a courtesy call to the tall ships that have previously called at Osaka: "Sagres II" of Portuguese Navy, "Juan Sebastian de Elcano" of Spanish Navy and "Shabab Oman" of Omani Navy. In Piraeus and Singapore, "Akogare" helped promote the international profile of Osaka.

STS "Akogare" World Sail 2000, was kindly supported by the Japanese Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Transport and diplomatic authorities of the nations of call. As an Official Supplier, CLS in France provided an ARGOS terminal on board to identify the position of the ship via satellites. Another satellite device: Inmarsat Marine Mini M was installed for stable and around-the-clock communications with the ship by voice, e-mails and photos.