HMCS ORIOLE

Based in Halifax since 2017 after a long stint on the West Coast, HMCS ORIOLE first arrived in time for Tall Ships 2019. She underwent a refit in Lunenburg over the winter of 2017/2018, and then did a Great Lakes tour in 2018, and I believe is due for another in 2019. ORIOLE is the oldest RCN vessel in commission.

After an event at the Royal Nova Scotian Yacht Squadron on Saturday, ORIOLE sailed past HMCS VILLE DE QUEBEC during the Battle of the Atlantic service on Sunday, May 5.

Although initially under sail flying her spinnaker, possibly with wind filtered down through the northwest arm, light wind caused the spinnaker to collapse several times and she gave up on sail and reverted to engine power. Without her sails up, she rolled a fair bit in the swell to which both ships were presenting their beam.

Hopefully I will manage to catch her properly under sail before she heads to the Great Lakes.

ARM Cuauhtémoc

While we were out for the Battle of the Atlantic service on Sunday, we caught the arrival of the Mexican Navy's sail training vessel, ARM Cuauhtémoc. A sister-ship to Gloria, Simon Bolivar, and Guayas, the barque is similar in design to the Blohm & Voss designs such as Gorch Fock, USCGC Eagle, and NRP Sagres (the latter visited about a year ago).

Cuauhtémoc appearing out of the fog.

If you look closely, you can see the sailors manning the yard arms.

Beam to, with the tugs hidden behind.

The lighthouses on Georges and McNabs Islands to the left.

Cuauhtémoc pulled into Pier 24.

Cuauhtémoc was open to the public over several days, and I managed to get onboard on the final day, Wednesday, before her departure. 

As with many similar vessels, Cuauhtémoc was flying a huge ensign from the mizzen mast.

Each stair tread bears the ship's name.

One of the ship's boats.

The rest of the photos can be found here.

ARM CUAUHTEMOC

The Mexican Navy's sail training vessel CUAUHTEMOC arrived in Halifax last week, and departed today. I wasn't around on the weekend, so I had to settle for getting a few photos this morning and this afternoon. 

CUAUHTEMOC alongside Cable Wharf this morning.

I waited around for the 8:00 am raising of the Mexican national flag and the courtesy Canadian flag, for which they played both country's national anthems.  

Raising the Mexican flag.

Raising the courtesy Canadian flag.

Originally scheduled to depart at 10:00, she instead moved to HMC Dockyard for the afternoon, and went with a departure in the early evening - which I didn't catch. 

CUAUHTEMOC at HMC Dockyard.

CUAUHTEMOC at HMC Dockyard.

CUAUHTEMOC has been here before. Here is a photo of her alongside Purdy's Wharf during Tall Ships 2004.

At least one of her sister ships has also been here: Colombia's GLORIA was here in 2000, as well as more recently.

GLORIA in 2000.

She is also related to Venezuela's SIMON BOLIVAR and Ecuador's GUAYAS.

All four of these ships were built to a design similar to that of USCGC EAGLE and the Portuguese Navy's SAGRES II.

USCGC EAGLE on 2000.

EAGLE in 2012.

SAGRES II in 2009.