Following her participation in the celebrations marking the 250th Anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence, the Romanian Navy’s legendary training ship Mircea has taken part in one of the world’s rarest and most historic tall ship competitions — the Five Sisters Cup.
Revived nearly half a century after its only previous edition, the Five Sisters Cup brings together the iconic sail training vessels built to the same design by the renowned Blohm & Voss shipyard in Hamburg, Germany.
Although five sister ships were originally constructed, only four remain in active service today, with this year’s fleet featuring:
- 🇷🇴 Mircea (Romania)
- 🇺🇸 USCGC Eagle (United States)
- 🇵🇹 NRP Sagres (Portugal)
- 🇩🇪 Gorch Fock (Germany)
The original Gorch Fock I, the first vessel built in the series, now serves as a museum ship in Germany and no longer sails. While the competition retains its historic name, this year’s race was contested by the four surviving sister ships still actively serving their respective navies.
The inaugural and, until now, only edition of the Five Sisters Cup was held in 1976 during the United States Bicentennial celebrations. On that occasion, the current Gorch Fock, launched in 1958, claimed victory and was awarded the prestigious Tiffany & Co. trophy, which remains in Germany’s possession today.
The 2026 edition began on 9 July, as the four majestic square-rigged ships crossed the starting line under full sail with their engines switched off, officially commencing the timed race. The approximately 60-nautical-mile regatta concluded on the morning of 10 July, with the winner set to be announced during the official awards ceremony in Boston on 12 July.
More than a competition, the Five Sisters Cup celebrates the enduring traditions of seamanship, friendship and mutual respect shared by generations of naval cadets and sailors. For the crew of Mircea, participation in this historic revival represents another proud milestone in this year’s international training voyage and a memorable chapter in the vessel’s distinguished history.
As one of the world’s most iconic sail training ships, Mircea continues to proudly represent Romania on the international stage, preserving maritime heritage while inspiring future generations of sailors.
