He left to sail the Pacific for two months aboard the Chilean navy's majestic tall ship Esmeralda. He came back with a slew of experiences, a global network of friends and three wedding invitations.
Naval Cadet (NCdt) Isaac Goggin was selected to participate in Operation REGULUS, a program that places sailors on foreign vessels to expand their horizons and learn new skills.
On June 2, 2019, NCdt Goggin joined 20 similarly-ranked sailors from around the world and 60 Chilean midshipmen on a training course to be conducted as Esmeralda sailed across the Pacific from Valparaiso, Chile, to New Zealand.
NCdt Goggin found it fascinating to spend time on Esmeralda – a 109 metre-long tall ship with a 50-metre mast – with course-mates from England, China, Argentina, Fiji, Australia, Colombia and Mexico.
“The ship is beautiful. The first time I saw it was at night, lit up with lights running up the mast. I was expecting something Oriole [the Royal Canadian Navy's tall ship] size, but it's about four times as big,” he said. “It's called ‘Dama Blanca' or the ‘White Lady' – it's such an elegant looking ship.”
Esmeralda launched in 1953 but is the sixth vessel to carry the “Esmeralda” namesake in a tradition dating back to the 18th century. The ship is steel hulled, but because it's painted white from bow to stern and because it has large sails and wood internal construction, it looks very old-fashioned.
“The mess is all old wood and the…
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