Golden Hinde (1973) Golden Hinde (1973) The Golden Hinde (launched 1973) is a full-size replica of the "Golden Hind" (launched 1577). She was built by traditional handcraft in Appledore, Torridge. She has travelled more than , a distance equal to more than five times around the globe. Like the original ship, she has circumnavigated the globe. She sailed from Plymouth on her maiden voyage in late 1974, arriving on 8May 1975 in San Francisco, to commemorate Sir Francis Drake's claiming of New Albion, believed to be somewhere in California. Having completed the filming of the TV series "Shogun" the vessel lay moored in
Francis Drake were to become the Queen's secrets of the Realm, and Drake and the other participants of his voyages on the pain of death sworn to their secrecy; she intended to keep Drake's activities away from the eyes of rival Spain. Drake presented the Queen with a jewel token commemorating the circumnavigation. Taken as a prize off the Pacific coast of Mexico, it was made of enamelled gold and bore an African diamond and a ship with an ebony hull. For her part, the Queen gave Drake a jewel with her portrait, an unusual gift to bestow upon a commoner, and