#Tallship@85 - An 85 year-old Italian Navy school tallship that always draws a big crowd during the Tall Ships Races, which this year sees a North Sea Regatta call to the UK later this month, is currently on a three-day visit to Dublin Port, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The pride of the Italian Navy the cadet trainee tallship Amerigo Vespucci, a full rigged three mast ship visited Dublin during the capital’s hosting of the Tall Ships Races this month four years ago.

The 2012 Races saw the distinctive sounding named vessel berth along Sir John Rogersons Quay, however compared to the line-up of other visiting white hulled vessels, she notably stood out. The ships unusual black and white stripped hull and gold decorative artwork adorning her bow all adds to a sense of style.

She is on her 80th training campaign for Cadets of the Italian Naval Academy, after departing Livorno, on the Tuscan coast last month with 100 cadets. The sail programme will cover the Western Mediterranean, Atlantic Ocean, North Sea and to Scandinavia. So far she has visited Cadiz, Spain.

On this occasion, Amerigo Vespucci, yesterday docked in Dublin Port under command Captain Curzio Pacifici and initially berthed at Alexandra Basin west. This was a rather unusual berth allocation for this type of ship. Only the masts and bowsprit were visible from the Poolbeg Yacht & Boat Club, Ringsend.

Afloat can confirm that Amerigo Vespucci has since shifted berths and is today berthed along Sir John Rogersons Quay. According to italvideonewstv.net, the tallship is open to the public for viewing with the following schedule:

Beginning today, Wednesday, 10th August: 16.00-18.30  and 20.00-21.30

Thursday, 11th August: 10.30-12.00  and 14.30-17.00

Friday, 12th August: 10.30-12.00  and 14.30-17.00

Following her Irish port of call, the sail programme will include visits to Oslo, Copenhagen, Antwerp, Brest and Valencia.

The tallship is due to return to Livorno on 1st October.