This is the replica ship built in Bristol in 1996, in time to to repeat John Cabot's voyage to 'America' in 1497 for it five hundredth annivesary: the Matthew. It may not be a perfect copy (there are no detailed records of the Matthew), but her tonnage is known, and that she was sailed by only 18 men, so this is the right type and size of ship. Their landing point is disputed, but is likely somewhere on Newfoundland. (I love the wikipedia notes that Cabot claimed the land for the King of England, but also raised papal and Venetian banners. *g* Bet-hedger.)
I don't usually post photos here which have been edited, but I have to confess this is a cropped out and tweaked version of the original (below the cut). The Matthew is so tiny compared with the SS Great Britain next to her, and it was such a dark day, and I was taking this photo from an open topped bus, so I thought the Matthew deserved a little special treatment, or you might not even see her!
