Rough ride for Spanish ship arriving in Torquay

Civic welcome for replica of Magellan's ship

A spectacular Spanish sailing ship has arrived in Torquay after an ‘exciting’ voyage through stormy seas.

Torbay Mayor Cllr Barbara Lewis (Con, Preston) led the welcoming committee as the Nao Victoria opened to the public.

Cllr Lewis said she was delighted to see the ship in the harbour, where she will be welcoming visitors until next Monday (16 June).

A floating museum and training ship, the Nao Victoria was built in 1991 as a replica of the ship that took Magellan on the first voyage around the world in the sixrteenth century.

The ship’s arrival in Torquay was delayed by a week due to bad weather, and crew member Lupo Bathke said the journey to Devon had been ‘very exciting’.

“She does move around an awful lot,” he said. “Being fairly short at only 24 metres, and at the same time fairly tall because of the fo’c’sle and the poop deck, the ship can move around an awful lot.

“When you’re in high seas it becomes very exciting.”

He said the crew was showing off a piece of Spanish culture and history.

“Being able to get people to really share in the experience of the ship and what it really means is just amazing,” he said. “There are plenty of chances for people to come down and have a look. We’ll be opening up until Sunday and on Monday morning we’ll leave.”

The next port of the call for the ship and her crew will be Eastbourne.