| Matthew (ship) |
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Ship sailed by John Cabot in 1497 from Bristol to North America , presumably Newfoundland . After a voyage which had got no further than Iceland , Cabot left again with only one vessel, the Matthew, a small ship (50 tons), but fast and able. The crew consisted of only 18 people. The Matthew departed either May 2 or May 20, 1497 . She sailed to Dursey Head , Ireland, from where she sailed due west, expecting to reach Asia . However, landfall was reached in North America on June 24, 1497. His precise landing-place is a matter of much controversy, with Bonavista or St. John's in Newfoundland the most likely sites. Cabot went ashore to take possession of the land, and explored the coast for some time, probably departing on July 20. On the homeward voyage his sailors thought they were going too far north, so Cabot sailed a more southerly course, reaching Brittany instead of England . On August 6 he arrived back in Bristol . A replica sailed the same voyage on the 500th anniversary of the landmark voyage. On June 24 , 1997 the replica of the Matthew was welcomed into port at Bonavista by Queen Elizabeth . The replica of the Matthew now offers commercial harbour and offshore cruises from March to September each year in Bristol , where it is moored next to the SS Great Britain . SEE ALSO Ship Replica (including a list of replicas) EXTERNAL LINKS |
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