STV Amerigo Vespucci

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At first glance this model appears to be an 18th century ship of the line, but is actually a much more recent vessel.  Amerigo Vespucci was launched in 1931 as a training ship for the Italian Navy.

Her designer was tasked with the development of a sailing training vessel.  While sailing vessels of the 20th century were of much sleeker appearance, closer to Flying Cloud, they do not have a lot of hull volume while this vessel was to accommodate a crew and trainee complement of 450, thus she more closely resembles an 18th century ship of the line like Le Superbe, having greater hull volume and therefore space for the large crew. 

Later sailing ships of the line lost the pronounced forecastles and poop deck and often had a straight sheer, and it was decided to provide the vessel the appearance of an early 19th century ship of the line, and while she does not carry guns, she is painted and decorated to resemble an old-fashioned ship of the line.

At tall ship events she is often a favorite vessel to spectators because of her elaborate decorations, even though she is a less able sailer than other more modern tall ships.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and there are many sail aficionados who say unkind things, like calling her a “pig with lipstick”.  However, this is unfair because she was not designed to win races or carry cargo, but to train navy cadets and act as a goodwill ambassador for Italy at international events, at which she is truly successful. 

Her dramatic appearances have enchanted many a non-sail sailor.  Famously while sailing the Mediterranean in 1962, the US aircraft carrier Independence flashed the Amerigo Vespucci with her light signal asking: “Who are you?” Amerigo Vespucci answered: “Training Ship Amerigo Vespucci, Italian Navy.”  Independence replied: “You are the most beautiful ship in the world.”  In 2022 the Amerigo Vespucci sailed by the US aircraft carrier George H. W. Bush, which saluted the ship and signaled: “You are still, after 60 years, the most beautiful ship in the world.”  A most amazing aspect of the comment is that they occurred 60 years apart!  And in 2022 the Amerigo Vespucci was some 91 years old!  For a ship to do her job for 91 years is a nothing short of amazing and delightful.

The model

Nothing is more fun than to make a model of the Amerigo Vespucci with all the rigging and details and decorations so it is no surprise that three large model kit companies offer a version of the Amerigo Vespucci with kits costing about $1000.

Henry Scheafer completed the 1:84 scale Panart kit in 1997.

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Navesink Maritime Heritage Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to engaging Eastern Monmouth County with maritime and water related historical, skill building, environmental, and recreational activities, and encouraging responsible use of the Navesink estuary through its Discover, Engage, and Sustain approach

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