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The winning teams of the national competition Navigators Through History—an initiative by Camilo José Cela University (UCJC), the Royal Academy of History (RAH), and the publishing house Vicens Vives—have completed their voyage through the Mediterranean. Sailing aboard the training schooner Cervantes Saavedra, they visited some of the most emblematic sites in Peñíscola, Tarragona, Palma de Mallorca, and Valencia. It was a week of learning, culture, and sailing that brought to life the spirit of academic expeditions from times past.
The winning teams—SEK-El Castillo, Hélicon, and GSD Las Suertes—visited key historical locations that played a significant role in Spanish Mediterranean history. History became a living experience for the students as they navigated and learned aboard this “floating classroom.” Their itinerary included cultural visits to castles, archaeological parks, Gothic cathedrals, and historic city centers, as well as workshops on sailing, astronomy, celestial navigation, maritime history, and knot-tying techniques.
Each night, they wrote in their logbooks, reflecting on what they had learned and sharing experiences on deck—beneath the stars, surrounded by white sails and documentary screenings. For many, this was their first time at sea and their first direct encounter with history beyond the pages of textbooks.
This edition of Navigators Through History began with a welcome event at the Oceanogràfic in Valencia and continued with stops in Peñíscola, Tarragona, and Palma de Mallorca. Activities included guided tours led by scholars from the Royal Academy of History, sailing workshops, night watches, lectures on Spain’s maritime Enlightenment, themed onboard events, and even a unique high-seas cooking competition.
The voyage ended in Valencia, where the students were visited by Jaime Olmedo, Rector of Camilo José Cela University and recently appointed full member of the Royal Academy of History. He guided them on a tour through the historic center of Valencia, including visits to the Cathedral, the Chapel of the Holy Grail, the Silk Exchange, and other landmarks of the old city.
Spain’s Largest School History Competition
Navigators Through History, the largest school history competition ever organized in Spain, was conceived as a gateway to the past through the geolocated knowledge offered by the Royal Academy of History’s Historia Hispánica portal. This platform brings together biographies of over 50,000 historical figures and more than 20,000 events, mapped to the places where they occurred, offering around 150,000 geographical records—forming the world’s first historical big data project.
The prize-winning students were members of teams recognized in various categories: creativity (SEK-El Castillo), use of the Historia Hispánica portal (GSD Las Suertes), and project defense (Hélicon). All of them demonstrated excellence, enthusiasm, and a deep connection with history, which they now had the chance to experience firsthand.
A Floating Classroom That Makes History
The training ship Cervantes Saavedra, built in 1934 at the Götaverken AB shipyards in Sweden, was acquired by UCJC in 2005, refurbished, and transformed into a floating classroom. Since then, it has hosted numerous educational voyages under the SEK Educational Institution.
Sailing under the Spanish flag, the ship welcomes students, teachers, and professional crew members aboard in an environment that blends academic rigor, maritime adventure, and human development. This same vessel has hosted the SEK Posidonia Lab project—focused on marine biology and sustainability—and has served as a space for teaching history, astronomy, nautical culture, and leadership. Every summer, it also hosts the Blue Planet Voyage in collaboration with the Oceanogràfic Foundation, offering an educational and family-oriented marine experience dedicated to restoring the Mediterranean.
