Movies from January 15th, 2009 Ceremony

Presentation of Le Juste by Canadian Ambassador Jean Pierre Juneau  (Quicktime)

July 2009   The fourth gun deck is now completed and both bow and stern carvings have been gilded in 24 kt gold! Another 50 miniature sailors have also been commissioned for work on deck and in the rigging. You may view the current progress of the work underway  here at Castillo de la Fuerza, which is now Havana's new maritime museum.

January 2009   The last four months have been very busy. More than 100 miniature sailor figures  now completed, the third gun deck has been closed, and finishing work is underway to complete the final deck and remaining hull details. A large gilded Lion adores the bowsprit of Santísima Trinidad and Nelson is working on the stern carvings. You may view the latest images here.  On January 15, 2009, the ship will move from Castillo de la Punta to her final resting place as the featured exhibit within the new maritime museum of La Fuerza. Contact us if you wish an invitation to this event. During February and early March the rigging will be completed, and computer interface installed. 

Another exciting project by the Friends has also been underway in Havana since early September 2008 with Cuban - Canadian links to Montreal born Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville. Visit here for the latest information, news and presentation of d'Iberville's ship Le Juste to the museum.

August, 2008   View the latest images of Santísima Trinidad here .  Work now continues towards "closing" the two upper gun decks, construction of all masts, and making patterns  for construction of the sails. Soon the intricate carving details will begin for the bow and stern areas as well as modeling the  remaining 25 officers and crew members. We expect the complete hull and internal details to be completed in December and then the ship must be carefully transported from the workshop to her final exhibit room at La Fuerza Fortress. During the first three months of 2009 all masts will be positioned, standing and running rigging installed and computer interface connected to the ship and the touch screen monitor.

November , 2007  The Office of the Historian hosts a reception in honour of the Santísima Trinidad project on November 28th at La Punta Fortress Museum. Canada's Ambassador and other guests from Canada, Spain, the Embassy of Spain in Havana  and Canadians living in Havana and Cuban Government officials attended the event. See the reception images here!

August, 2007  The Bluenose ll Preservation Trust Society has commissioned a model of the Bluenose to be presented as a gift to the Historian's Office and the new maritime museum at La Fuerza in memory of her life while based in Havana from 1942-1946. This event will take place during a reception jointly hosted by the Friends and the Historian's Office celebrating the opening of the museum in late November 2007. Visitors will also meet the artisans and view the work on the Santísima Trinidad. Contact us if you wish an invitation to this event. View the most recent photos of the ship here.

May, 2007 Discover the interesting link here of Canada's Bluenose to Cuba's maritime heritage.  The Friends are working now to include the Bluenose as part of Cuba's maritime past

March, 2007 Georgian College staff and Computer Science students join the project to offer programming skills for the interactive computer aspect of the project. This will allow visitors to explore the interior of the ship and learn about life aboard an 18th Century Ship of the Line

January, 2007  View the latest images here.

November, 2006  Units 3 & 4 are now completed as the shape of the hull emerges. ( There are 28 units of work to complete the construction of the ship) Work begins on the next two units  of the ship.   Two new artisans, Nelson and Vladimir join the team.  Sometime during 2007 we expect to move the the ship to La Fuerza Fortress when it is ready to be opened to the public. Visitors will be able to view the project and watch the artisans at work.

September, 2006 The keel is laid and the first two units of work on Santísima Trinidad are completed, construction continues on the next two units.

August, 2006 Workshop at La Punta Fortress is under construction with the arrival of the tools from Canada.

May 16, 2006 Fifteen cartons and crates of tools are now packaged and ready for shipment to Havana by container over the next two weeks.

April 20, 2006 - Friends undertake a search for new and used woodworking power tools and supplies for the project including  a band saw, scroll saw, table saw, thickness planer, wood lathe, tool grinder, drill press, jig saw, electric drills, palm and belt/disk sander.

April 1,  2006  - La Punta Fortress selected as location for construction of Santísima Trinidad.