Sailing a 16th century galleon in San Diego!

If you’ve wondered what it was like to sail into San Diego Bay on a Spanish galleon back in the 16th century, you have the opportunity to enjoy the amazing experience!

San Salvador, the seaworthy replica galleon built by the Maritime Museum of San Diego, sails out of downtown San Diego a couple time a month, taking visitors on a memorable adventure on the water!

San Salvador, a full size replica of the Spanish galleon flagship used by Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo to explore the California coast in 1542, was built by the museum back around 2015 on the shore of Spanish Landing. You can see photos of its construction here.

Today, passengers board the ship at the museum and typically enjoy a four hour sail off Point Loma. That’s what I did yesterday!

The trip was nearly a sell-out, so between passengers and about a dozen crew members, the galleon was quite lively. It really became lively out on the open ocean, when the round hulled galleon really rocked and rolled! (If you are susceptible to motion sickness, take a Dramamine in advance of your journey, and keep your eyes on the horizon.)

One cool aspect of the trip was everyone learned a lot about the history of Cabrillo’s exploration, Spanish conquistadors, and San Diego as it was many centuries ago.

During the sail, I recommend hanging out on either the raised foredeck or quarterdeck, where you have the best views and can watch the dynamic crew working the sails and yards.

After Captain David briefed the passengers on safety, we were on our way through San Diego Bay using San Salvador‘s two diesel engines. Because galleons are square rigged, you can’t sail into the wind. On the way back into the bay from the Pacific Ocean, we sailed with the wind and didn’t taken our sails down until back near the Embarcadero.

Okay, let’s see some photos!

We are ready to pull away from the Maritime Museum’s barge…

Here we go! I started out by standing near a foredeck ladder looking back at the shrinking San Diego skyline.

I climbed up onto the foredeck…

Crew members getting to work…

I shifted my position to the quarterdeck. You can see the whole ship from here and observe the captain, who was standing near me.

That guy in the open window is the helmsman. From a sheltered spot he can observe the sails and way forward, while manually steering San Salvador under orders from the captain. He uses a vertical lever whipstaff to move the tiller, which turns the rudder.

A sail is being readied from the foredeck.

There’s Spike Africa! The schooner participated in last weekend’s Schooner Cup race, which I enjoyed from aboard Bill of Rights. See those photos here!

Heading out to sea down the channel, with North Island on our port side. A sailboat was watching us! Captain David is still using the diesel engines.

Almost out into the Pacific Ocean. That’s the New Point Loma Lighthouse down by the water.

Shortly before, we saluted Cabrillo National Monument by firing one of the galleon’s swivel guns. Fingers in ears can’t hold the camera!

It turned out to be a perfect, partly cloudy day.

We’re starting to roll! Hanging on!

Many hands raising the galleon’s sails…

Now I’m looking rearward from the quarterdeck.

Some folks headed down to the lower main deck where the rolling is less severe.

Lots of exciting action closeby!

A sailboat ahead requires a steering maneuver.

A NOAA research ship was also heading down the channel away from San Diego.

If you want, you can train to become a volunteer crew member on the Maritime Museum of San Diego’s amazing tall ships!

We’re being slowly propelled forward by wind power! Galleons aren’t terribly fast. We managed 3 knots. (That’s about 3 1/2 miles per hour–the speed at which I walk!) Imagine being an explorer in the 16th century rolling about on the open ocean moving at this quite modest speed!

There are various places where passengers can safely sit during the voyage.

After we tacked and began sailing back toward Point Loma, I headed to the galleon’s beak.

I turned around…

We are under sail almost all the way back to the museum. Once we enter San Diego Bay, it’s much smoother sailing! This is the life.

Now I headed once more to the foredeck…

Looking down at the beak as yards are squared to capture the wind from our rear.

There’s Spike Africa again, off of Harbor Island!

We all raise a lusty cheer for Spike Africa. Hip hip hooray! Hip hip hooray! Hip hip hooray!

After a few moments, they return the cheer!

If you’d like to enjoy a similar adventure, check out San Salvador‘s webpage by clicking here!

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