Operation Drake Operation Drake Operation Drake (1978–1980) was a round-the-world voyage with the participation of young people from many countries. The voyage was centred on the brigantine Eye of the Wind. She left Plymouth in October 1978 and returned to London two years later, in December 1980. Named after Sir Francis Drake, who had circumnavigated the world four hundred years before on the Golden Hind. Operation Drake was divided up onto 9 ocean and 1 land based phases, each lasting about 3 months. On each phase, a number of Young Explorers, youngsters aged between seventeen and twenty-four, who were selected from countries
Speedwell (1577 ship) bottom of the bay. "Speedwell" is also mentioned several times in battle-action scenes in the historical fiction novel, "Armada: A Novel", written by Charles Gidley Wheeler and published in 1987. Speedwell (1577 ship) Speedwell was a 60-ton pinnace that, along with "Mayflower", transported the Pilgrims and was the smaller of the two ships. A vessel of the same name and size traveled to the New World seventeen years prior as the flagship of the first expedition of Martin Pring. "Speedwell" was built in 1577, under the name "Swiftsure", as part of English preparations for war against Spain. She participated in