The Matthew in Bristol’s Floating Harbour, with Kaskelot in the background
The tall ship Kaskelot is a three-masted barque; built in 1948 by J Ring-Andersen she began as a Baltic trader, and is now claimed as one of the largest wooden ships still in commission, much used for film and TV work such as Return to Treasure Island, The Three Musketeers, David Copperfield and Shackleton
The Matthew is a replica of the English ship that, sailing from Bristol under the Genoese captain Giovanni Cabotto, discovered Newfoundland in 1497; John Cabot to this day remains an honorary Bristolian after whom a tower, a council ward and a shopping mall are named
After its construction in Bristol near St Mary Redcliffe the modern Matthew commemorated the 500th anniversary of Cabot’s voyage by sailing to Canada
The green and white colour scheme acknowledges the original ship sailing under commission from the Tudor king Henry VII
My New Shy 
What a lovely piece of history, linking England, Italy and Canada!
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It’s great to think of all those maritime links. And don’t forget Denmark in the mix — there’s even a Baltic Wharf in Bristol docks!
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I’m always amazed by how tiny these ships were/are. A replica of Henry Hudson’s Half Moon sailed up the Hudson a few years ago (400th anniversary of his trip to the New World), and I was stunned to think that a couple dozen men made it across the Atlantic on that. Next to a modern cruise ship, it would look like a canoe.
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I’ve always thought they were brave too, bearing in mind modern replicas have motor back-up should anything go wrong. Just navigating the tidal range and alluvial mud of the Avon to sail inland to the port of Bristol could result in shipwreck, so crossing the Atlantic or navigating icy seas are awe inspiring feats.
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