Sir Francis Drake

The 102 foot long replica of Drake's ship, the Golden Hind, had been converted in 1954 from an old coastal sea-defence vessel and for many years was a tourist attraction in the harbour at Brixham in Devon, as well as being used for film and television. It cost £25,000. On November 9 1987 she was being towed by the tugboat Pendragon to Dartmouth Harbour to have a new keel fitted when she began taking on water. 55mph winds and 9 foot waves made the rescue of the crew on board difficult, and it was impossible to save the ship which foundered in the River Dart. A new replica was built using an old Thames barge, and once more moored at Brixham.

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