Voyage of the 'New Golden Hinde' Parchment Sea Chart 1974

An intriguing and possibly unique chart showing the intended passage of the full size replica of the new 'Golden Hinde'. She was commissioned by two American businessmen, Albert Elledge and Art Blum, who wished to commemorate the vessel sailed by Sir Francis Drake on his circumnavigation of the globe between 1577 and 1580 and specifically the 400th anniversary of Sir Francis Drake's landing on the west coast of North America in 1579. The ship was designed by Loring Christian Norgaard, a Californian naval architect, who spent three years researching it, drawing on original journals of the crew members and other manuscripts. The building of the ship was given to J Hinks & Son of Appledore, North Devon, using traditional methods and tools. She was named 'The New Golden Hinde' by the Countess of Devon and was launched on 5th April, 1973.

She subsequently sailed out of Plymouth on her maiden voyage in late 1974 via Barbados and transited through the Suez Canal, a facility not available to Sir Francis Drake, but her insurers and we suspect owners would not allow a voyage via Cape Horn as the original vessel was routed 400 years before! She was nearly lost in a hurricane but finally arrived in San Francisco on 8th May 1975 and the skipper and crew were given a hero's welcome by the locals and so achieved their aim of commemorating Sir Francis' proclamation of New Albion at a site believed to have been in northern California in 1579. Since then she has travelled more than 140,000 miles (225,000 km) and has sailed around the world whilst also starring in various movies including 'Shogun' filmed in Japan in 1979, 'Drake's Adventure' and 'St Tinian's 2: The Legend of Fritton's Gold'. Following numerous adventures worldwide 'The New Golden Hinde' has been berthed since 1996 at St Mary Overie Dock in London although she did sail to Southampton in 2003. She is open to the public as well as hosting a range of educational programmes for school visits and can also be booked for private functions.

Our chart, which shows some age wear and minor fading to the edges, is printed on material which gives the impression of the sail cloth used on treasure maps. It appears to have been produced by Adrian Small and is dated 1973. Our research indicates Captain Small was the Skipper on the maiden voyage. The chart is entitled 'Proposed route of the New Golden Hinde ' and dated 1973 which has been crossed out and changed to 1974. It is dedicated to 'Sid Walker Esq, B.O.J. Surveyor With all Good Wishes ' and signed 'Adrian Small, Master and dated 28th September 1974'. The voyage chart was discovered in the attic of the Plymouth home of Sid & Sara Walker by the new owners back in 1994. We assume Sid Walker (who was apparently a real character and had metal mooring buoys as garden features at this home) assisted on' the Golden Hinde' project and this chart was presented to him as a form of thanks. It measures 32 1/2" x 21" (83 cm x 53 cm). Having languished in a Plymouth attic for many years this historical artefact is now in need of a new owner to be treasured and displayed as it deserved.