SAN FRANCISCO, (July 23, 2008) The Coast Guard Cutter Eagle sails toward the Golden Gate Bridge earlier today in preparation to lead 35 tall ships in this year's Parade of Sail into the San Francisco Bay. The Eagle is visiting San Francisco and five other west coast ports including Los Angeles, San Diego, Tacoma, Astoria, and Victoria, British Columbia. It has been in service with the Coast Guard since 1946 following World War II and serves as a training flatform for cadets and officer candidates to learn leadership, teamwork, seamanship and navigation skills. (Coast Guard photo by PA1 Alan Haraf, Distrcit Eleven Public Affairs).