Those who have yet to visit the Nao Victoria, a replica of the only vessel to survive Ferdinand Magellan’s pioneering circumnavigation of the globe, have until Sunday to step aboard.
The vessel is in Guernsey as part of a 2026 European tour taking in more than 20 ports across the UK and the continent.
The 25.9-metre floating museum lets visitors experience the realities of the three-year voyage, which set off in 1519 with four ships and almost 300 crew, but returned with just one vessel and 17 survivors in 1522.
Magellan, a Portuguese officer financed by the Spanish crown, was killed during a conflict with people in the Philippines, and Juan Sebastian Elcano took command to complete the journey.
‘It is very old and very archaic, the sails are rectangular and are built to follow the strong wind currents, so aren’t very manoeuvrable,’ said volunteer Javier Ortiz.
Visitors touring the ship can learn about the crew’s harsh conditions – ordinary sailors were barred from indoor areas and slept on the exposed deck, while only officers had cabins and only the captain had access to navigational charts.
‘The crew is made mostly out of volunteers. We go around educating people about our heritage, which is sometimes overlooked,’ said Mr Ortiz.
He said the ship, built in 1991, had embarked from Ramsgate after a storm forced it to shelter there instead of Dover, and would head towards Spain after leaving Guernsey.
The original voyage which achieved the first circumnavigation of the Earth proved the planet’s roundness and the existence of timezones, and charted the Strait of Magellan along with several Pacific island groups.
Among those visiting last week were Simone Kelly and Ed Tildesley, who took their three-year-old son Oliver aboard.
‘I think it is brilliant and Guernsey should have more things like this,’ said Ms Kelly.
‘It’s great for the kids to come and have a look, and they do volunteer sailing programmes.’
The Nao Victoria will remain open to visitors at Victoria Marina until 20 September, between 10am and 8pm, before continuing its European tour.
Tickets are available at ticket.fundacionnaovictoria.org.
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