ReachExtra
Marina Alcaidesa was one of the final ports to host the Nao Victoria before the commemorations begin for the 500th anniversary of the first circumnavigation of the world.
It was one of the most famous and beautiful ships ever built and the people of the Campo de Gibraltar were able to admire it and to come aboard the replica of the Nao Victoria, when it came into port some weeks ago at La Linea’s Marina Alcaidesa to the thrill of young and old.
La Linea was one of the last Spanish cities to be visited by the ship before it sailed on its journey. This year marks the fifth centenary of the famous historical feat and the replica of the spectacular ship is set to undertake another challenge: a three-year world tour tracing the journey made by the great explorers Fernando de Magallanes (known in English as Magellan) and Juan Sebastián Elcano.
The original Victoria was able to complete the greatest maritime journey in history between 1519 and 1522; it was no less than the first circumnavigation of the world carried out under the captaincies of Fernando de Magallanes and Juan Sebastián Elcano.
That expedition took three years and 14 days, and covered 32,000 nautical miles (78,000 kilometers) and so the globe was encircled for the first time in history.
The ship that moored at La Línea is a faithful replica of the original made of pine and oak and measuring 26 metres in length with a beam seven metres across.
Visitors were able to walk on its upper deck and enjoy this impressive ship, as they were retold the ship’s history and of the living conditions of the crew that five centuries ago sailed around planet Earth.
They were shown all four of the ship’s decks, the captain’s cabin and the living quarters on board in a unique tour. In addition, they were able to descend to the cabins to see how the current crew live.
The current crew has also clocked in many miles as they have travelled the world. Thus between 2004 and 2006 the ship carried out its own world tour crossing over 26,000 miles and stopping in 17 countries; it was the first ship of its kind to make such a journey. Since then it has made various tours of the United States and Europe and hosted thousands of visitors.
A perfect replica
The replica of the Nao Victoria was built in Spain in 1991. Far from being a simple and swift procedure its construction was very much the opposite. An arduous and meticulous process of historic investigation was carried out under the direction of its designer and builder Ignacio Fernandez.
Sources used included chronicles of the time, 16th century nautical treatises, and drawings. This allowed for the principal dimensions, masts, sails and rigging to be ascertained so allowing for a perfect replica to be built.
