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
Thomas Doughty (explorer) established the idea that a ship's captain was its absolute ruler, regardless of the rank or social class of its passengers. Doughty befriended Drake during Drake's military actions in Ireland. Drake, Doughty and John Wynter left Plymouth, England in 1577, purportedly on a simple trip to Alexandria. Drake's real mission was to interfere with Spanish treasure fleets in the New World; whether he proceeded with the full knowledge and sanction of Queen Elizabeth I, and whether his original intent was the circumnavigation of the globe are still topics of scholarly debate (see Kelsey, "Sir Francis Drake: the Queen's Pirate.") The