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In the year 2000, Brazil has celebrated its 500th anniversary. That is to say, it's now for 500 years that Brazil is known by the western world. I don't know about all the festivities that have taking place, but they will have partied, that's for sure.
One of the main events, so I am told, was the introduction of a square rigged training vessel for the Brazilian Navy. For 5 years the Brazilians were looking for a representative vessel, a vessel where they could be seen with, a vessel with enough training facilities.
The Brazilian Navy was familiar with Damen Shipyard, and when Damen started with the construction of the Stad Amsterdam, the Brazilians were very interested and fell for the lines and the looks of this clipper. They ordered themselves a ship like that.The Brazilian Navy had to make two promises:
1. They were not allowed to visit Sail 2000 in Amsterdam with there ship, because then the Stad Amsterdam is introduced to the Dutch.
2. The hull was not to be painted black! The Stad Amsterdam will look in many ways very authentic, a black hull is part of the image. But I guess that was not a problem either. I suppose the name of their ship was already known:
Cisne Branco: the White Swan.
Some pictures of the decks 7 picturesParts of the rigging 8 pictures
Pictures of thrusting and steering gear 4 pictures
A look inside 3 pictures
Sailing the clipper 10 pictures
