A masterpiece of maritime history
The Nao Trinidad, built in Spain in the early 1500s, was one of five ships selected for the ambitious expedition led by Ferdinand Magellan in 1519. This voyage, organized under the auspices of King Charles I of Spain, aimed to discover a route to the Spice Islands via the west, thus opening up an unprecedented trade route for Europe.
With a capacity of around 110 tons and a length of almost 30 meters, the Trinidad was a sturdy carrack. Her square sails and wooden hull made her particularly well-suited to the high seas, although the technical challenges of long crossings would soon test her limits.
Magellan's expedition: an extraordinary adventure
The Trinidad set sail in 1519 with four other ships (the San Antonio, the Concepción, the Victoria and the Santiago) and a crew of some 270 men. It was a perilous odyssey: crossing the Atlantic, crossing what was to become the Strait of Magellan, facing the vagaries of the Pacific, and attempting to return via the Indian Ocean.
The Trinidad played a central role in this historic expedition, although Ferdinand Magellan, killed in the Philippines in 1521, never saw the completion of his project. After crossing the Pacific, the Trinidad suffered damage and had to remain in the Moluccas for repairs, leaving her sister ship, the Victoria, to complete the first circumnavigation in 1522.
The tragic end of the Trinidad
The fate of the Trinidad reflects the immense challenges of the great explorations of the time. Damaged and unable to continue her westward voyage, she attempted to return to Spain via a route across the Pacific. The return voyage was a failure: caught in a storm, captured by the Portuguese or racked by hunger and disease, the crew never managed to bring the Trinidad back to port.
A replica that sails
This solid three-masted bowsprit measures 28m in length, with a displacement of around 150 tons. The Nao Trinidad has been rebuilt with great respect for the ship's original philosophy, and with the addition of the fittings and safety features that are essential for a modern round-the-world voyage.
The aft hold was converted to accommodate the crew's quarters, including a galley and a number of bunks. During Magellan's voyage, the crew cooked their meals on kerosene fires on deck, and had no place to sleep. The hold was occupied by goods and provisions, and the sailors slept on the main deck, in the open air. Only the captain had his own cabin.
The main concessions to modernity: two shaft motors have been installed to make the yacht self-sufficient in port maneuvers, and a hydraulic windlass has been installed in the forepeak. This replaces the manual capstan which had to be operated by 4 crewmen.
Everything else is done the old-fashioned way. The 250 m2 of sails are operated solely by pulleys, and you have to climb the mast to unfurl the five sails on board.
Below the forecastle is a covered area where spare ropes, sails and tools were stored. There's also the dogfish, which operates the enormous 2-tonne rudder tiller.
