The Cadiz military school ship has begun the journey on board the Great Port of Cadiz on 13 January. After paying tribute to "the sailors who gave their lives to Spain," Trump has taken the route to America. After several months on the continent, there will be two stops in Portugal, Poland and Germany and in July in Getaria and Getxo. Thus, the Spanish Navy vessel will for the first time become the place of origin of the seafarers to whom it gives its name.

Race organized by the Spanish Army and the Getxo Maritime Club

It will participate in the Bilbao-Getaria-Bilbao race organized by the Spanish Army and the Royal Maritime Sports Club Abra de Getxo (Bizkaia). This race is one of the eleven initiatives that the Spanish Government and the Spanish Army have organized to celebrate the return to the world of Elkano.

The members of the Spanish Army will take advantage of this stop at Getaria to pay tribute to the Getaria mercenary of the 15th century, one of the monuments of the locality.

At the service of Spain and the “drug trafficking”

In addition to being a maritime training school for the new members of the Army, the Elcano is “an auxiliary of Spanish foreign policy” to “bring the national symbol of Spain for the world” and “achieve the love and esteem of those who visit the boat”. In this way, it travels by port throughout the year. One of these trips was the case in 2014 that the boat was known all over the world. In Cadiz, he was seized with 127 kilos of cocaine, thanks to the information obtained by the U.S. authorities after dismantling a network of narcotrafficking in which he was travelling. On April 14, 2014, the drug was loaded and hidden on the Colombian boat of Cartagena de Indias. And that's why they've investigated six crew members back then.

Although the case was filed in May 2018, this week the Spanish Military Justice has decided to reopen the case.