The Matthew

[Ramirez Noname]

A day off and a day out - what more could you want ?

Well, how about a suprise find ?

A week or so before the Bristol Festival of the Sea, we found the "Matthew" about to leave Portishead Marina.

And a long shot as Matthew enters the Severn Estaury

Ramirez

[Malamute]

Lovely ship what's the history behind her?

[oxiana]

Lovely ship what's the history behind her?

She's the ship that John Cabot sailed from Bristol in 1497 to be the first European to land in North America (give or take a few pesky vikings). This replica was built in 1997 to commemorate the 500-year anniversary.

She's tiny. I lived in Bristol at the time, and the shipyard where they built here was semi-open, so you could see the shipwrights at work. Such a beautiful ship. When they launched her she sailed out of the Avon, and as she passed under the famous Clifton Suspension Bridge, Concorde (also built in Bristol) flew right overhead. Ancient and modern, it was pretty amazing. I seem to recall some awesome fireworks that night too—a cascade of light like a waterfall off the suspension bridge—but to be honest, I'd had a few jars by that time...

And yes, brave ship that she is, she then sailed across the Atlantic to recreate Cabot's voyage. She then spent a year pottering up and down the American and Canadian coast — my uncle crewed on her for a fortnight in Newfoundland.

It's great that she's back in her home port for the summer.

For more, see http://www.matthew.co.uk/.

[Galloping Major]

I just love the visits of re-created sailing vessels like these, wish I was there 



www.gallopingmajorwargames.com

[Captain Blood]

Brilliant. Love it. Her.

[Big Martin]

She's a bit of a common site to me - I work about a mile up the dock from where she's usually moored (by the Great Britain museum) and where she was built is about half that.
I remember going to her launch in the mid-90s - great times.

[WillieB]

Wow! That's a real beautiful little ship!
Sail her to Antwerp!

[jscottbowman]

Lovely ship. I am guessing she is a 'Carrack' in design?

[Ignatieff]

Beautiful and tiny as you say!

[Axtklinge]

Beautiful!
Amasing what shuch small ships could acomplish in the right hands.

[Papa Spanky]

Lucky!! I love seeing the tall ships that come into Chicago every year.

[W.B.Kurgan]

I went to university in Bristol from 1996 - 2000 and I saw the Matthew a few times - my friends that still live there have posted a few photos of her on Facebook this week.

I have a real soft spot for that little ship - good times!  

[Skratch]

Wow, that is one cool ship. I've seen quite a few of these replica's and they never seize to amaze me.