Only days after the Tall Ships 2009 celebration came to an end, two Tall Ships arrived into Hamilton Harbour this week.

The Portuguese Navy training ship Sagres and the Royal Spanish Navy ship Juan Sebasián Elcano, are both here for brief stops.

Sagres arrived Saturday on its trip from Lisbon to join with Tall Ships race festivities in Boston and celebrate the July 4 holiday with the Portuguese community in New York.

While its main mission is to train young sailors, a secondary goal is to interact with Portuguese communities throughout the world.

Commanding Officer of the Sagres Luis Pedro Pinto Proenca Mendes said that the ship is a symbol of pride for the Portuguese community.

"Wherever we go, they are proud to have a ship like this," said Cdr. Mendes. "They're proud to see us flying the flag."

"When people think about the Portuguese, they think about [international football star] Ronaldo. They used to think about discovery, about navigation. That is what we are still doing."

The second ship in harbour, the 82-year-old Juan Sebasián Elcano, isthe third-largest Tall Ship in the world.

The 71-year-old Sagres is actually the third ship to carry the name.

The second Sagres, a German boat captured by Portugal in First World War, won the 1958 Tall Ships' race.

The current Sagres is also originally a German Ship, captured by American forces during Second World War, before being turned over to Brazil, then Portugal. It is also the sister ship of the Coast Guard ship Eagle, which visited the Island during the Tall Ships 2009 festival.

For Cdr. Mendes and the crew, a trip to Bermuda is like a return home.

"It's Portuguese territory," said Cdr. Mendes. "It's nice coming here and being able to speak Portuguese with more than one other person. It's one of those places you always want to visit."

While trainee positions on the ship are usually reserved for those in the Portuguese Navy, as part of the Tall Ships race they will be picking up 13 trainees from around the world. According to Cdr. Mendes, sailing on a Tall Ship is an experience that should not be missed.

"When you are in a Tall Ship like this, as soon as you get out of port, turn off the engine and put up the sails, all you want to do is sail," said Cdr. Mendes.

John Edwards, who has lived on the Island for 50 years, recalled seeing the second Sagres compete in the 1957 Tall Ship Race from the HMS Acute.

"I remember looking out the port window and it was like going back in time," said Mr. Edwards. "I loved seeing it in full sail. It has those beautiful red crosses on the sails."

Sagres is scheduled to leave port on Wednesday, but is open for tours today and this evening.