Golden Hinde Model Ships

Did you know that a life size, modern replica of the original Golden Hinde ship model (also called the Golden Hinde), was launched in North Devon in 1973? It has travelled a distance of 225,000 kilometers or 140,000 miles which equals more than five circumferences of the globe. The original Golden Hindevessel was an English vessel primarily famous for its global circumnavigation, carried out between 1577 and 1580. It was captained by the great Sir Francis Drake. Although the original name of the vessel was Pelican, it was renamed as the Golden Hind in honor of Sir Christopher Hatton, its patron. Drake's ambitious world voyage was sponsored primarily by Hatton.

The Historic Significance of the Golden Hinde

Queen Elizabeth I of England selected Sir Francis Drake to lead an expedition that was meant to circle South America right across the Strait of Magellan with the aim of exploring the coast lying beyond the Magellan Strait. This was in 1577. The queen's support was of huge advantage as Drake now had royal approval for causing maximum harm to the Spaniards. These inclinations would finally give rise to the Anglo Spanish War. Reportedly, Drake had a face to face meeting with the Queen before setting sail. Drake went on to act as a privateer performing under unofficial support from the Queen.

Drake's flagship in the voyage that comprised of five small vessels was the Pelican, later renamed the Golden Hinde. On the 1st of March 1579, the Golden Hinde went on to capture a Spanish Galleon. This was the largest treasure captured to date, amounting to well above 360,000 Pesos. The entire treasure weighed 6 tons. The ship docked at Plymouth Harbor on the 26th September 1580. Although Francis Drake was known for his piratical conduct, he was conferred with a  Knighthood by the Queen, aboard the Golden Hinde.
With such a significant historic record, Golden Hinde model ships remain one of the most preferred collectables in the historic vessels category. Model-Ships.co.uk sells some of the most artistically designed models of Hind Ships to choose from, among a host of other vessels, historic and modern.