"Calma Chicha" for Elcano's Tenerife Visit Without Princess Leonor

In sailing, "calma chicha" refers to a completely still wind and sea. The training ship 'Juan Sebastián de Elcano' experienced a similar quiet atmosphere this Saturday, a year after Princess Leonor had been on board. This visit saw only a slow trickle of visitors, a stark contrast to the two-hour queues and 3,000 daily visits the ship received in 2025.

The absence of the Spanish Crown's heir, combined with unpleasant, intermittent rain, marked the 63rd stop of the iconic training ship in the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. This visit was part of its 98th training voyage, designed to turn midshipmen into true 'sea wolves' and future Navy officers. One young cadet even put up a small sign asking not to be disturbed as she was taking an exam. Without the incentive of seeing the Princess and with bad weather, the people of Tenerife – known locally as 'chichas' – lacked the eager crowds of a year ago to board the 113.10-meter long and 13-meter wide brigantine schooner.

However, sailing ships still hold a strong fascination, especially for generations who grew up reading or watching pirate adventure movies. During these open days, the ships act like a magnet. Sandro and Elena, for example, who live in Adeje but were shopping in Santa Cruz, brought their children Carlos and Alejandro to explore the seven decks and take souvenir photos at every hatch, boom, and piece of rigging they found. "Where are the sails?" asked five-year-old Carlos. "Stored away so they don't break," his mother replied, seeing the disappointment on his face. The little boy put his hands in his pockets and walked with his head down for the rest of the visit.

"Don't they get seasick?" asked a curious seven-year-old Andrea to her grandmother as they waited to go up some stairs. "A sailor told me that to avoid seasickness, you should eat green apples," commented Pili from Buenavista, who was behind Andrea in line.

"Look, that mast is called 'Nautilus', like Captain Nemo's submarine," grandfather Esteban told his grandson Yeray. "And who is that?" the child replied. "Haven't you read '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea'? Let's see if I can find the movie later at home and we can watch it together this afternoon," the grandfather said, his voice a mix of nostalgia and acceptance that his childhood and his grandson's were very different. "Better not ask him about Sandokan," he muttered wryly to his companion, who was of the same generation.

Another couple from Galicia was interested in the crew's life on board and asked several petty officers and midshipmen many questions. "And where are you going now?" they inquired. "We're going to Trinidad and Tobago, near Venezuela." "Well, be very careful in those waters, things aren't very good over there." "For now, there are no orders to change port."

"Why are there two steering wheels?" asked Juani from Granadilla de Abona. "We actually use this one up here; the other, the larger one, only serves as a museum piece," replied the cadet.

The ship departs today for the Caribbean and will bid farewell to the port of Tenerife until next January, when it makes its 64th stop.