The San Felipe Launched in 1690, was one of the most beautiful Spanish ships of its era. She was led the Spanish Armada. San Felipe's role in the war against the British and French was to help protect Spanish settlements and harbors but also to transport gold from the new world. The San Felipe was armed with 96 cannons enough firepower to match the best ships the French and British navies had to offer. In 1705, the San Felipe fought a heroic battle against 35 British ships but was captured by an English ship and badly damaged and ended up at the bottom of the ocean with several tons of gold.

The Eagle is a three-masted sailing Barque with 21,350 square feet of sail. It is homeported at the CG Academy, New London, Connecticut. It is the only active commissioned sailing vessel in the U.S. maritime services. (One of five such Training Barques in world. Sister ships include: MIRCEA of Romania, SAGRES II of Portugal, GORCH FOCK of Germany, and TOVARICH of Russia.)

The Eagle bears a name that goes back to the early history of the United States' oldest continuous seagoing service. The first Eagle was commissioned in 1792, just two years after the formation of the Revenue Marine, the forerunner of today's Coast Guard.