SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Eagle often called “America’s Tall Ship” was back in San Diego this week, giving the public a rare chance to climb aboard the historic vessel.

At 295 feet, Eagle is the largest tall ship flying the American flag. Built nearly 90 years ago, the vessel still trains Coast Guard cadets and serves as a goodwill ambassador with Port calls around the world.

For Mark Grady, the ship holds special meaning. A 1996 Coast Guard Academy graduate, he sailed aboard Eagle during a 1993 voyage to Dublin, Ireland.

“We were in the North Atlantic midway through our crossing to Ireland when one of the halyards [one inch line] snapped,” Grady recalled. “They rang bells, woke us all up and we had two minutes to be up in the rigging hauling sails in.”

Now,

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