Replica of Magellan ship open for tours on Plymouth's waterfront
PLYMOUTH – The town's harbor is big enough to hold more than one historical floating replica.
A re-creation of the 16th-century Nao Trinidad is now docked off Town Wharf and will remain in town for tours through July 23.
The original Trinidad was the flagship of a five-vessel fleet captained by Ferdinand Magellan that set sail from Spain in 1519.
After more than two years at sea, the Trinidad sprang a huge leak in its hull. That prevented its return to Spain from the Maluku Islands in Indonesia with the expedition’s only other surviving ship, the Victoria. The latter did make it home, completing the first voyage around the world months later.
The 150-ton Nao Trinidad replica was built in 2018 under the direction of the Spanish-based Nao Victoria Foundation, a nonprofit that describes itself online as “specializing in sharing the maritime heritage and researching for the recovery, construction and promotion of historical ships by sailing to ports around the world and allowing guests to meet history.”
The ship is 93 feet long and has a 26-foot beam, three masts and a bowsprit. The main mast is more than 82 feet high.
Visitors can tour four decks and get a feel for what life was like on the ship. The crew explains how the ship operates and what life is like for them on long voyages.
The Plymouth Area Chamber of Commerce, the Town of Plymouth and the town’s Visitors Services Board are sponsoring the visit.
Tickets are $5 for children, $15 for adults and $35 for families. They can be purchased at the ship or online at naotrinidad.org.
This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Nao Trinidad docks in Plymouth until July 23
