Friday 9 September we sailed out of Lisbon, with a big crowd of people watching the gun salute at Torre de Belém. We've had a lovely week in the Portuguese capital with great events and visits on board, as well as visitors from the public. Next stop is Málaga, Spain!
The passage to Lisbon over the Bay of Biscay offered 15 days of both beautiful sailing with windfilled sails and quiet weather. It was a beautiful sailing leg with dolphins and whales accompanying us on the way, as well as a swimstop outside of Lisbon.
Monday 5 September, we arrived in Lisbon, greeting the city with a gun salute outside Torre de Belém. It is the first time that Götheborg has visited Lisbon, an exciting stopover given Portugal's long seafaring history. We moored at Cais Rocha Conde de Óbidos with a great view of Ponte 25 de Abril, and we were open to visitors almost every day of the stopover.
A highlight of the week was that the Swedish-Portuguese Chamber of Commerce (CLS) celebrated its 40 year anniversary on board, with more than 110 guests attending. The ship, as a symbol of Swedish trade, provided the perfect setting for the event. It was a beautiful evening with networking and tours around the ship as the sun set over the ship and Lisbon.
Another highly appreciated event was that the Swedish School in Lisbon visited the ship, with students from six years old and up. It was a beautiful day, with the crew on board being just as excited to greet the children on board as they were to see the ship. Before the visit, the children had learned about the ship, its history and the impact that the Swedish East India Company had on Swedish economy in the 18th century, so they were well prepared and had many questions. Thank you for coming!
We would also like to direct a very big thank you to the Embassy of Sweden in Portugal, the Swedish Ambassor to Portugal Elisabeth Eklund, and Embassy Consular Sara Lagergren. On Monday 5 September they organised for the Swedish crew members on board Götheborg to vote in the Swedish elections. It was a very special occasion (in the world's best looking voting – if we may say so ourselves) and a fantastic effort from the embassy.
Now we're on our way to Málaga! Hope to see you there!
Opening hours in Lisbon:
5 September: 15:00–20:00
6 September: 13:00–21:00
7 September: 10:00–17:30
8 September: 10:00–17:30
Greencarrier och Göteborgs Stad är överens om att vilja skapa en långsiktig hemvist för Ostindiefararen vid Masthuggskajen. Målet är att fartyget ska spela huvudrollen i ett nytt historiskt upplevelsecentrum som ska stå klart 2031, och bidra till ett mer levande kajstråk nära Järntorget.
During the evening we will be joined by Mats Berggren, who during the construction period represented the Swedish Maritime Administration as a determined and persistent inspector, and Marie-Louise Edholm, who took part in building the rigging, has sailed with the ship, and has been responsible for the maintenance of the rig. You will gain insight into traditional craftsmanship, material choices, and the many challenges involved in combining historical authenticity with modern safety and operational requirements. If you were involved during this period, perhaps you have a story of your own to share. We would love to hear it! About halfway through the lecture, coffee and pastries will be available for purchase. All proceeds will go directly toward the re-rigging of the ship. Registration is free of charge. Please register by emailing: vanner@gotheborg.se A warm welcome! The Friends of East Indiaman Götheborg Association
Following growing interest in the future of the East Indiaman Götheborg, Greencarrier now presents detailed plans for a new permanent quay location and an adjacent experience center at Masthuggskajen in Gothenburg. The ambition is to create a new destination in the city ahead of the 300th anniversary of the Swedish East India Company in 2031. The first vision images are now being presented.