The magnificent 1,900 ton three-masted tallship Gorch Fock, which has been on a five-day official visit to Southampton, is due to leave the city's port today.
Since her commissioning in 1958, the decks of Gorch Fock have seen more than 12,000 officers and non-commissioned officers of the German Navy pass through a rigorous three-month training programme based on seamanship and teamwork.
During her stay in Southampton the tall ship was the venue for a reception hosted by Thomas Matussek, Germany's ambassador to Great Britain, and Captain Michael Bruhn for the city's mayor, Councillor Parvin Damani, and 150 guests.
In addition to its official role as a sail training ship Gorch Fock is in demand as an Ambassadine of the Blue and is a regular competitor in tallship races around the world.
The ship is named after the writer Johann Kinau, who died in the Battle of Jutland during the First World War in 1916, under the assumed name of Gorch Fock.
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