Nao Victoria replica ship

Moored in Plymouth for a few weeks, and open for visitors to step aboard, is this replica of the Nao Victoria, a Spanish vessel whose original was built in the early 16th century. It was one of five ships that formed a fleet called the Spice Armada. Their objective, by order of the Spanish crown, was to discover a route to the spice islands. In 1519 the Nao Victoria left Saville under the command of Ferdinand Magellan, returning in 1522 after circumnavigating the world. Magellan didn't make it. He lost his life at the hands of Phillipine natives, leaving Captain General Juan Sebastian to complete the voyage with a crew of 17 pushed to their limits.

The ship is tiny. The crew slept on deck, with the captain alone sleeping under cover on a narrow bunk. The hold of the ship was used for cargo. Life aboard was certainly tough. The crew of this 1991 replica have the advantage of bunk beds in the hold of the ship (fitted with what felt like memory foam mattresses!). They also have an engine and electrics as well as the sails that they use whenever possible. It still takes some guts to sail it round the world, which they did in 2004-6, making it the first replica ship to do so.

An interesting visit. As the rain continues and the fog grows ever thicker, we're now pinning our hopes on an improvement tomorrow.