The Galeón Andalucía is a 1:1 scale model of a 16th Century Spanish galleon, the sort of thing infamously used in the Spanish Armada of 1588. This replica was launched in 2009 and built of fibreglass lined with wood. She is a 500-ton vessel, 160ft long, 32ft beam with four masts, six sails. A map on the wall shows that she has sailed all around the world, the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans and Aegean, Bosphorus, Caribbean, East China, Mediterranean, Red and South China seas. The map, though, is very disappointing as it doesn't show the Isle of Wight, but despite this faux pas mishap it popped into Cowes to visit for a couple of days, and I was lucky enough to look round. Next to the map on the wall are lots of plaques showing that several places it has visited have awarded the ship the freedom of the city, and that this is an honorary member of, to take one example, the Texas State Navy and various other places, which makes you wonder whose side it would really be on in the event of a world war.

Much of what has been written about this ship emphasises how faithful a replica it is, which considering it is made of fibreglass and has an engine is surely debatable. Looks nice, though, Particularly from Cowes Castle, which was built in 1539 specifically to stop French and Spanish galleons from turning up. Just one job to do and failed miserably. . .

This photo shows the PS Waverley – the last ocean-going paddle steamer – passing behind her.

Bluebottle

30.09.24 Front Page

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