- The Directorate of Ports and Maritime Affairs, under the Basque Government, and the Euskadi Marina and the Bilbao School of Engineering of the UPV will participate in the event organized by the Spanish Navy in Getaria on 6 and 7 July. On the occasion of the commemoration of the 5th centenary of Juan Sebastián Elcano's Return to the World, the Army wishes to pay "the greatest tribute of all times".
The 500th anniversary of the world tour of the sailor of Getaria Juan Sebastián Elcano, a mercenary at the service of the Spanish Empire in the 15th century, is underway. By investing a large amount of public money, the Basque and Spanish institutions have begun to organise a series of events to commemorate the anniversary.
One such event will be held at Getaria on 6 and 7 July: “The horizon of Elkano.” The main organiser of the initiative is the Spanish Army. The Spanish Government has taken the lead in the eleven initiatives Elkano is preparing to pay tribute to this young man who died in 2008. According to the Spanish Army and Government, what Elkano has done is “the greatest feat ever made in the history of the Spanish Army.”
The July event aims to “pay the greatest tribute that has ever been paid to Juan Sebastián Elcano, and to this end they want to unite the “four fleets” related to the sea: commercial, fishing, military and sports. A number of sea-related associations, including four nautical clubs and a number of fishing associations, have therefore joined the initiative.
Ambassador of Spain to Getaria
A sailing boat will be held on 6 July, with Getxo-Getaria and Hondarribia-Getaria sailings. In addition to the sailing boats, a voyage will be open to all types of boats in the form of a ‘boat rally’. The objective is to bring together a hundred boats for the arrival in Getaria of the vessel ‘Juan Sebastián de Elcano’ of the Spanish Army.
The boat Juan Sebastián Elcano, in addition to being a military school, is the best known symbol of Spain at sea and in his travels he performs the duties of embassy of Spain. "Discipline, friendship, courage and patriotism are the virtues that work on this boat" are the words of Juan Chicharro, Commander of Spanish Navy Infantry, on the Elcano. Chicharro is currently the head of the Francisco Franco Foundation.
Last week the Elcano boat arrived in Cuba, which will arrive at Getaria in July and which will sail to Málaga. As a sample of the boat's environment, the following video recorded by the military has been broadcast there:
Mass and tribute
On 7 July, another of the activities to be carried out in Getaria in tribute to Elkano will be a Mass in the Church of San Salvador, with the participation of the Salbatore Choir. The representatives of all ships, including 197 Elcano military personnel, will then pay tribute to the monument to Elcano.
The organizations that have joined the “Elkano Zeruertza” initiative, promoted by the military, are as follows:
Spanish Army
Spanish Commission of the Fifth Centenary of the First Round of the World
Spanish Army Maritime Museum Foundation
Directorate for Ports and Maritime Affairs of the Basque Government
Association of Captains of the Merchant Navy of Bizkaia
Bilbao Engineering School UPV/EHU
Basque Sailing Federation
Marinas of the Basque Country
Club Náutico de Hondarribia
Lekeitio Tuna Fishing Club
Elcano Fishermen's Brotherhood
Hika Txakolindegia
Hotels in Getaria
Itsasamezten – Association of Captains, Skippers and Fans of the Sea
Orza Armadores Puerto Deportivo de Getxo
IES Pasaia Marine Fisheries
Real Sporting Club - Real Sociedad Náutica del Abra
Real Club Náutico de San Sebastián
‘Real Liga Naval’ from Spain
Nautical Association of Zumaia