NEW LONDON, Conn. — The U.S. Coast Guard Barque Eagle (WIX 327), America’s Tall Ship, invites media to ride aboard Thursday, Aug. 13, as the ship returns to its home port at Fort Trumbull Pier in New London.
Media must RSVP to Coast Guard Academy External Affairs by 4 p.m. Aug. 12. Credentials and a valid driver’s license are required for port security. Business‑casual attire and closed‑toe shoes are required. Due to the ship’s historic design, participants must be able to climb an accommodation ladder, similar to climbing one flight of stairs. Space is limited and available on a first‑come, first‑served basis.
Media taking part in the ride‑in should meet Station New London personnel at 7:45 a.m. Thursday at Coast Guard Station New London, 100 Bowditch St. Participants will board a small boat for transport to Eagle and return to the pier at approximately noon.
To RSVP or ask questions, email cga-public-affairs@uscga.edu or call 860‑857‑5544.
Eagle's media kit, including design specifications, is available at https://uscga.edu/mission/eagle/eagle-media-kit/.
About Eagle:
At 295 feet in length, Eagle is the largest tall ship flying the Stars and Stripes and the only active square-rigger in United States government service. Constructed in 1936 by the Blohm and Voss Shipyard in Hamburg, Germany, Eagle was transferred to the United States as a war reparation following World War II. Since 1946, Eagle has served as the flagship of the Coast Guard fleet and a classroom at sea and leadership lab for future Coast Guard officers as part of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy's curriculum. The three-masted barque carries more than 22,300 square feet of sail supported by approximately six miles of rigging.
For more information and photos of the vessel, visit the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Eagle Page. To read the official press release detailing the ship’s 2026 deployment and participation in the nation’s 250th anniversary, visit the Sail 2026 Information Hub.
For more information about Eagle, including port cities, tour schedules and current events, follow the cutter on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CoastGuardCutterEagle/ or on Instagram @barqueeagle.
All U.S. Coast Guard imagery is in the public domain and is encouraged to be shared widely.
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