Golden Hinde

Year: 1577 AD
Category: Modern
Vessel Type: Merchant Ship
Scale: 1/16" = 1 foot
Overall Length: 119 feet

Sir Francis Drake was the first Englishman to circumnavigate the earth and, along the way, he plundered every Spanish ship and colony he could find. He returned to England laden with Spanish gold. This action sent a strong message against the old world concept of "territorial waters" and paved the way for the modern concept of the oceans being international waterways for all countries to use freely. Prior to this time Spain and Portugal were the world superpowers and this was the beginning of Britain coming to the forefront and of Spain and Portugal taking a back seat.