Santa Maria Manuela
The Portuguese 4-masted schooner Santa Maria Manuela offers interactive and environmentally friendly sailing trips. In addition to the marine voyages that travellers can enjoy, this historic ship offers original team building programmes for companies and also carries scientific and environmental expeditions.
Explore the Santa Maria Manuela
In 2023, it will sail along the French Atlantic coast, spend two months sailing in the Azores archipelago and make ocean crossings between Lisbon and the islands of the Azores and Madeira. Be part of the adventure!
- Country of origin: Portugal
- Home port: Madeira
- Length overall: 68.64 metres
- Date of construction: 1937
- Construction material: Steel
- Architect: Unknown
- Number of sails: 4-masted schooner
Book your visit aboard the Santa Maria Manuela
Did you know? The history of the Santa Maria Manuela
Santa Maria Manuela was launched on 10 May 1937, in Lisbon, Portugal. Between 1937 and 1993, it carried thousands of sailors to Newfoundland and Greenland in pursuit of cod, the most sought-after fish for the Portuguese people. Life on board was harsh. Sailors faced cold, cramped conditions below decks and above, bitterly cold north winds, frequent storms and long hours fishing in the treacherous seas of the Grand Banks in small boats.
In 1940, a new danger appeared: the submarines of the Second World War. Santa Maria Manuela is one of the last ships of the mythical White Fleet, a group of cod fishing vessels whose hulls were painted white to avoid being torpedoed during military conflicts.
Between 2007 and 2010, the vessel was rebuilt by the Pascual fishing group before being taken over by Recheio Cash & Carry, who gave her a major refit in 2022. Today, its programme of sea adventures, scientific expeditions and corporate team building programmes encourages guests to get involved in every element of life on board and to explore the fascinating islands and ports visited by the ship.
