Amerigo Vespucci, we board the most beautiful ship in the world

LIVORNO. Let us board the Amerigo Vespucci, the lady of the seas, the most beautiful sailing ship in the world, which is considered a travelling embassy of Italy thanks to its diplomatic missions. We sail to Livorno, on the Mediterranean tour, after the Navy training ship on its world tour touched down on five continents and on each stage was an ambassador of Made in Italy, telling the world about Italian excellence. A two-year voyage across five continents, 30 countries, touching 35 ports, covering over 46 thousand nautical miles. It crossed three oceans, including the passage to Cape Horn, at the point where the Atlantic mixes its waters with the Pacific.

Landings, departures, calm and stormy waters. Nave Amerigo Vespucci is an immense sailing ship, with three continuous main decks from bow to stern and two superstructures: the castle at the bow and the quarterdeck at the stern. The three-masted sailing ship was launched on 22 February 1931, built and fitted out in the Regio Cantiere Navale in Castellammare di Stabia. She entered service as a school ship in June of the same year and is now 94 years old, but she doesn't look it with her timbers and brass pulled to a shine. At the bow is the gilded bronze figurehead, depicting Amerigo Vespucci, the 15th century Italian explorer and navigator who gave his name to the 'new world' and to the ship. It is a real floating city, with a crew of 264 military personnel, supplemented by 100 trainees and support staff from the Naval Academy. A total of 400 people.

The rhythms on board are marked by manoeuvres, meals and sleep. It takes a strong spirit of adaptation to live on board. The young trainees sleep in hammocks, movable beds that are less affected by the movement of the ship and are set up in the evening and rolled up again in the morning. The alarm goes off at seven o'clock and breakfast is served immediately. Then two meals at 1pm and 7.30pm. In shifts, to allow the crew to perform all services.

There are so many jobs on board. The force of the wind is not enough to make the Amerigo Vespucci move, it takes the work of many hands. The crew and trainees work hard. A lot of effort is required. For example, to change course under sail, four complete turns of the four ankle wheels correspond to one degree of tiller. It is a tiring shift for the trainees who, thanks to their experience on this ship, put themselves to the test with abnegation to catch the wind. An unforgettable thrill.

Three bells on board. One to mark the night watches. The stern bell rings only in the event of abandonment of ship. A bell, therefore, that must never ring during navigation because it is believed to bring bad luck. That is why there is a clove of garlic inside, as a good luck symbol. At bow is the bell used in case of fog, which for superstitious reasons is only polished on the day of departure and on the day of arrival, at the end of the campaign. Among the curiosities on board is the photo of the Amerigo Vespucci's encounter in the Mediterranean with the US aircraft carrier Independent. 'You are the most beautiful ship in the world,' said the aircraft carrier's commander. A phrase that has stuck in the collective imagination for this ship that represents the symbol of Italian naval excellence in the world.