The Colombian Navy tall ship ARC Gloria sailed into San Diego Bay Thursday morning, arriving at Broadway Pier to throngs of cheering Colombian Americans.

The ship serves two functions for the Colombian Navy — 66 members of its 164-person crew are cadets learning seamanship and navigation. It's also a mobile ambassador for the country.

On its current Pacific tour, the Gloria visited Acapulco, San Francisco, Vancouver and now San Diego.

They'll stop at Puerto Vallarta and Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala before returning to its home port of Cartagena, Colombia.

The ship arrived with cadets manning its rigging on two 100-foot masts high above the ship's deck.

Each member of the crew carries a bosun's pipe — a high-pitched whistle — in order to communicate across its decks.

Midshipman Santiago

See Full Page