B.A.P Union Wins Boston Teapot Trophy
The Peruvian Naval Class A ship, B.A.P Unión, has been awarded the Boston Teapot Trophy for part of their voyage from Callao and Tahiti.
Their winning entry saw them sail 1,261 nautical miles with an average speed of 10.71 kts between 21:00 GMT 05 July and 01:00 GMT 11 July 2023. The award marks the first time B.A.P Unión has won the trophy since its inception in 1964.
The winning voyage took place during the start of the Peruvian Naval ship’s circumnavigation of the world, which sees them visiting 14 countries across five continents over a 10-month voyage.
Built between 2012-2015, the Peruvian four-master Barque is the sail training ship of the Peruvian Navy. It acts as a training vessel for officers and naval cadets and as an ocean sailing ambassador, promoting Peru in its various voyages around the world.
Other notable entries for this year’s Boston Teapot Trophy came from Fryderyk Chopin (Poland), Libertad (Argentina) and last year’s winner, Statsraad Lehmkuhl (Norway).
“There is no doubt that the 115 metre, four-master Barque, B.A.P. UNIÓN, is one of the fastest Tall Ships afloat today. She made an impressive inaugural appearance by winning line-honours in the Rendezvous Tall Ships Regatta from Boston to Halifax in 2017.
This year she sailed 1,261 nautical miles within the prescribed 124 hours, during a west-bound trans-Pacific voyage in July between the Marquesas and Tuamotu Island. This feat gained her the trophy against many other credible entries.”
Paul Bishop, MBE, Sail Training International Race Operations Committee
On hearing the news on board, Lt Cdr Jorge Luis Malaver said:
“This important news will let B.A.P. UNIÓN hoist the signal to celebrate with ‘splicing the mainbrace’, which was how it was done in the age of sail.”
Everyone at Sail Training International would like to warmly congratulate B.A.P Union and her sailing crew for an amazing award-winning voyage.
About the Boston Teapot Trophy
The Boston Teapot Trophy was created when two Tall Ships were voyaging back from the US to Europe after the first transatlantic Tall Ships Races, to create competition for their young sail training crews on their journey. Since then, it has been contested annually ever since between some of the best sailed Tall Ships in the world.
At this time, it was decided that a trophy should be awarded for the fastest passage, greatest noon to noon run, or other notable feat. The winning criteria were not worked out until after the vessels had sailed, but it was decided that the trophy should be called “The Boston Teapot”.
To recognise the award, Brooke Bond Tea obtained permission from the Boston Fine Arts Museum to copy a silver teapot which was in use in Boston at the time of “The Tea Party”.
This prestigious trophy has been awarded annually ever since to the vessel that sailed the greatest distance within 124 hours with a sail training crew aboard. The extended time of the voyage helping to counteract any short-term effects of gusty winds and other factors that might provide short peaks of speed.
