Built as a wooden two masted caravel replica of the fifteen century by Samuel & Filhos, Vila da Conde, Portugal for Associaçao Portuguesa de Treino de Vela (APORVELA)
1989 Keel laid down.
28 April 1990 launched under the name BOA ESPERANÇA.
Dim. 23.8 x 6.6 x 3.3m. (draught), length on waterline 21.7m.
Rigged with two lateen sails
One auxiliary Volvo Penta diesel engine, 190hp, speed on engine ?, maximum speed under sail 10 knots.
Accommodation for 22 people.
Home port Lisbon.
She was built to commemorate the 5th centenary of the passage of Cape of Good Hope by Bartolomeu Dias in 1488.
She is as close of possible a replica to an original “caravelao” of that time. Various types of wood were used such as wild pine for the planking, gunwale, hog and masts. Teak for the deck and poop, and eucalyptus wood for the yards.
She was constructed by naval craftsmen specialised in wood construction, in accordance with what is known from the requirements of rules and regulations on naval construction of that time.
She is fitted out with todays comfort and with modern navigation equipment, to be used as a training vessel.
Summer 1990 she made her maiden voyage when she participated in the Bruges commemorations on the creation in the XV century, of the first Portuguese Commercial Administration of Europe.
Took part in the 1992 Columbus commemorating voyage across the Atlantic.
She was also present at the official commemorations of the fifth century of the arrival of Pedro Alvares Cabral in Brazil, on 8 March 2000.
2008 She is today assigned to the Algarve Regional Tourism Office, and based at Lagos, Portugal.
Source: Mostly copied from http://www.ancruzeiros.pt/ancv-besperanca-e.html Chapman Great Sailing Ships of the World by Otmar Schäuffelen. SG1189