Coast Guard Cutter Eagle arrives in San Diego for Festival of Sail

***  INTERVIEWS AVAILABLE ***

SAN DIEGO -- The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Eagle, known as "America's Tall Ship," homeported in New London, Conn., will arrive in San Diego Wednesday at 10 a.m. to participate in the Festival of Sail. The Eagle will be seen transiting in the parade before mooring downtown at about 2 p.m.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Media wishing to schedule an interview with crewmembers or cadets from the Coast Guard Cutter Eagle may contact Petty Officer Anastasia Devlin at 619-278-7022.

Free tours of the Eagle will be available:

Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2 p.m. through 7 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 21, from 9 a.m. through 7 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 22, from 9 a.m. through 7 p.m.
Saturday Aug. 23, 10 a.m. through 7 p.m. and
Sunday, Aug. 24, 9 a.m. through 7 p.m.

The present day Eagle has become a recognizable symbol of the U.S. Coast Guard. Known throughout the world for its history of belonging to the Germans, the Eagle was originally a training vessel for the German navy in World War II and was previously named Horst Wessel. In 1946, following WWII, the Horst Wessel was taken as a war prize by the United States and is the seventh ship to be named Eagle in Coast Guard history.

The operational crew of the Eagle consists of six officers and 55 enlisted personnel whose primary mission is to train future Coast Guard officers in fundamental leadership, teamwork and seamanship skills, and serve as an international ambassador when visiting foreign ports.

Sailing schedules, daily photos, journal entries and other information about the vessel can be found on the Eagle's website at http://www.uscg.mil/hq/uscga/eagle/eagle.htm.

More information on the Festival of Sail can be found at http://www.sdmaritime.org/ContentPage.asp?ContentID=542.

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