The Golden Hinde

The Golden Hinde in London is a 102-foot full-size replica of Sir Francis Drake's 1577 flagship that has sailed over 140,000 miles around the globe. Originally named the Pelican, Drake renamed the vessel mid-voyage after capturing 26 tons of Spanish silver and 80 pounds of gold. The replica also appeared in the television miniseries Shōgun.

London · from the walk “London's Big Kid Adventure” · audio ~3 min · Generated

Golden Hinde, St Mary Overie Dock, Cathedral Street, London SE1 9DE

Why did Sir Francis Drake rename the Golden Hinde during his 1577 voyage?

Alright... see that ship tucked between the buildings over there? The one with the bright red and yellow hull and a golden deer on the front? That's the Golden Hinde... and it has one of the Coolest stories in all of London.......... This is a full-size replica of the actual ship that Sir Francis Drake sailed All the way around the world — back in fifteen seventy-seven! And here's the thing... both this tiny vessel — just a hundred and two feet long — and the original Golden Hinde successfully circumnavigated the globe. That's right. This ship isn't just a model sitting in the water. She's travelled more than a hundred and forty thousand miles — a distance equal to more than Five times around the Earth!......... Now picture this. When Drake set sail from England with five ships and a hundred and sixty-four men... his sailors thought they were bound for Egypt! Instead, Drake took them around Cape Horn and into the Pacific Ocean. Sneaky, right?......... And can you guess what the ship was originally called? Not the Golden Hinde... She was originally known as the Pelican! But Drake renamed her mid-voyage to honour his patron, Sir Christopher Hatton, whose family crest was a golden hind — which is just a fancy word for a female red deer. So basically... he renamed his ship to butter up his sponsor. Smart move, Drake.......... Now here's the part that'll blow your mind. Off the coast of Ecuador in March fifteen seventy-nine, Drake captured a Spanish ship stuffed with treasure — including twenty-six tons of silver and eighty pounds of gold. It took his crew Six Days just to move all the loot onto the Golden Hinde.......... Only fifty-six men made it home with Drake, three years after setting sail and thirty-six thousand miles later. And when he finally pulled into Plymouth harbour... the people of Plymouth were amazed — they had long given him up for dead!......... And here's a secret... Only Queen Elizabeth the First and Drake himself knew the Exact amount he had looted. The Queen declared that all written accounts of Drake's voyage were "Queen's secrets" — and everyone involved was sworn to secrecy, even facing Death if they spoke.......... Now look around the deck if you get a chance to climb aboard. The gun deck is sandwiched between the hold and the main deck, and the ceiling is barely high enough for a small child to stand up straight! Imagine being a grown sailor, crouching down there for months at sea. Not exactly a luxury cruise, was it?......... This replica even appeared in the famous TV miniseries Shōgun! So next time you see a pirate ship in a movie... remember, it might just be This one.

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