Ports of the World, Santiago, Chile:The Esmeralda, the pride of the Chilean Navy, continues to this day to compete in international regattas. However, under the brutal military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet, the ship housed political prisoners, many of whom were tortured and ultimately killed, their bodies thrown overboard. While a spectacular navel vessel, which attracts interest and admiration from the international boating community, the Esmeralda also stands as a testament to Chile’s human rights violations. When in port, the boat draws considerable tourist interest, though whether this is due to its dark past or not is unclear.
