Welcome to Golden Hinde II! Southwark, London, 3 September 2013. The original ship, commanded by Sir Francis Drake, sailed round the world in 1577 - 1580 in pursuit of Spanish treasure and the north west passage. This was only the second circumnavigation, Magellan's having been the first (1519 - 1522). This full-size replica was built at Appledore in Devon, and was launched in 1973. Golden Hinde II completed its own circumnaviation at Plymouth in 1980, exactly 400 years after Drake's feat. It sailed until 1996, covering 140,000 miles and visiting the USA (east and west coasts) twice. The original ship and the replica both had a complement of about 80.
