Built as a yacht by the yard of Morris and Mortimer, Argyll, Scotland for Don Juan Borbón y Battenberg, Count of Barcelona, Spain.
Launched under the name GIRALDA.
Displacement of 81.68 tons, dim. 22.8 x 5.72 x 3.07m.
Sail area ?
Powered by two Gardner diesels, 228 hp., speed 10 knots under engine power.
Bunker capacity 6 cubic meter.
Range 3.000 miles.
1958 Completed. Homeport Marin, Spain.
By the Count, (he was the father of King Juan Carlos of Spain), the yacht was used in the waters off the Spanish coast, and also was she used of headquarters ship for the Count of Barcelona Admiral’s Trophy regatta sailed in the Mediterranean waters.
The Counts last will was to let the ship to the Spanish Navy after he passed away.
After he passed away she was taken over by the Spanish Navy.
23 August 1993 commissioned in the Spanish navy as a training vessel under the name A-76 GIRALDA.
2007 Still in service.
(Watercraft Philately Vol 42/32 gives that she brought Columbus remains back to Seville, but Columbus remains were brought back to Spain much earlier, even before the yacht was built?)
Spain 1994 16p sg3286, scott2786
Source: http://www.losbarcosdeeugenio.com/barcos/en/ae_A76.html Watercraft Philately Vol. 42/32.