Tall Ship Eagle Came June 14. It Docked at the FEC Slip that County Mayor Gimenez is dying to fill in Against The Will of the People and City of Miami Officials. By Geniusofdespair

The USCGC Eagle (WIX-327) (formerly the SSS Horst Wessel) is a 295-foot (90 m) barque used as a training cutter for future officers of the United States Coast Guard. She is the only active commissioned steel hulled sailing vessel in American military service. She is the seventh U.S. Navy or Coast Guard ship to bear the name in a line dating back to 1792. Each summer, Eagle conducts cruises with cadets from the United States Coast Guard Academy and candidates from the Officer Candidate School for periods ranging from a week to two months. These cruises fulfill multiple roles; the primary mission is training the cadets and officer candidates, but the ship also performs a public relations role. Often, Eagle makes calls at foreign ports as a goodwill ambassador.

Built as the German training vessel Horst Wessel in 1936, it served to train German sailors in sail techniques until decommissioned at the start of the war. Given anti-aircraft armament it was re-commissioned in 1942. At the end of the war Horst Wessel was taken by the US as war reparations.

This is where the Soccer Stadium was wanted by David Beckham and Mayor Gimenez. They wanted to fill the slip. Since the City owns the slip, they nixed the deal. People were free to go on board the vessel for a tour.  The salon has been restored to the way it was decorated when Hitler Christened the Eagle. Howard Slotnick of Op Sail New York (he was the Op Sail Vice President and Seaport Trustee) is going to encourage more Tall Ships to visit Miami's FEC Slip.


Mayor Reglado at the soft opening of Museum Park and the Arrival of the Eagle. Everyone was in a festive mood when the Mayor said NO to the Soccer stadium on the waterfront.

School Superintendent Alberto Carvalho with the Lovely School Board Member Raquel Regalado.

Grateful Citizens

Bicentennial/Museum Park - not as ugly as Mayor Gimenez thinks.

USCGC Eagle To Visit FEC Slip, Marc Sarnoff Invites You To the Park Opening and Ship Arrival. By Geniusofdespair

Come Join Us to Celebrate A Soft Opening of Museum Park! By Marc Sarnoff

On Saturday June 14, the iconic United States Coast Guard Cutter Eagle will visit the FEC Slip next to Museum Park. The vessel, used to train future coast guard officers, will dock at 10:45 a.m. followed immediately by a welcome ceremony and press conference. Please come and help us give the Coast Guard a warm reception and to celebrate a soft opening of Museum Park, which is nearing completion.

After the welcome ceremony on the pier, the ship will be open to touring by the public from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. If you cannot make it on Saturday, the ship will host public tours on Sunday and Monday from 1 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. before departing Tuesday morning, June 17th.

June 14th is also Flag Day, a day set aside to acknowledge and pay respects to our national flag. I cannot think of a more patriotic soft opening of Museum Park than to host the Coast Guard's premier training vessel for four days, including Flag Day, at the FEC Slip.

This is what we envisioned the only deep water slip in Miami could be used for: to attract historic ships for our citizens to discover and enjoy. We look forward to this event and to the separate grand opening of the park that will occur in the near future. Please come out and experience a fun-filled morning and afternoon for the whole family.

Here is the schedule of the USCGC Eagle at the FEC Slip for reference:

June 14th:

10:00 a.m.: Moor starboard side to Museum Park
10:45 a.m.: Arrival
11:30 a.m.: Welcome Ceremony and Press Conference
1 p.m. - 5 p.m.: Public Tours
7 p.m. - 9 p.m.: Coast Guard Foundation Reception

June 15th:

1 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.: Public Tours

Commissioner Mark Sarnoff told the Beckham Group the slip was off the table before the press conference Tuesday, because of events just like this one.  Let's be polite here, I mean it.

The FEC Boat Slip in Bicentennial/Museum Park will be hosting tall ship Eagle. By Geniusofdespair

U.S. Coast Guard Tall Ship, Eagle, will be docked at the FEC slip that Beckham and investors want to fill in. Remember it was Carlos Gimenez pushing the idea to Beckham.

Once a German ship in 1936, it is now part of the spoils of war. They restored the parlor of the 295 foot ship as it was when Hitler occupied it. It is eeire to visit the ship and think of its history when you are in it. The US got the tall ship in May 1946. "The USCGC Eagle (WIX-327) (formerly the SSS Horst Wessel) is a 295-foot barque used as a training cutter for future officers of the United States Coast Guard. She is the only active commissioned steel hulled sailing vessel in American military service."

You can visit the ship after its arrival on June 14th at 10a.m. It Departs June 17th. I would suppose the slip will be guarded by the Coast Guard, will find out for you. Don't know if kayaks will be allowed but you can certainly picnic nearby and visit the ship. Last time the Eagle was in town it had thousands of visitors a day, many were school children. I wonder if David Beckham will tour the ship.

The Coast Guard HAS JUST REQUESTED THAT NO ONE FROM THE PUBLIC ENTER THE SLIP WITH WATERCRAFT WHILE THE EAGLE IS THERE.

Here is the history of the FEC slip with some great photos from Curbed Miami, I have a suspicion some photos are mine, and mention of an early deed.