The Port of Dover welcomes the Nao Victoria, a replica of the first ship to circumnavigate the globe.
The visit marks the port’s second consecutive summer hosting a historic tall ship, following the success of the Galeón Andalucía’s visit in 2025.
The Nao Victoria commemorates the 16th-century voyage that first circled the world between 1519 and 1522. On 8 September 1522, 18 surviving crew members, led by Juan Sebastián Elcano, returned to Seville after more than three years at sea, crossing five oceans to establish the true scale of the planet.
The original expedition set out from Seville on 10 August 1519 under Ferdinand Magellan’s command, comprising five ships and 243 crew, known as “The Spice Army.”
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Only the Nao Victoria completed the return journey. The vessel now due in Dover replicated that same voyage in 2004, becoming the first replica ship to sail around the world.
Diederik Smet, Civic Engagement and Partnership Manager at the Port of Dover, said: “It’s amazing to have another iconic tall ship coming to the port for the second summer in a row.”
The Nao Victoria Foundation said: “Sailing the Nao Victoria to Dover is a truly epic event. We are talking about the world’s only seaworthy replica of the ship that accomplished the greatest maritime feat of all time: the first circumnavigation of the globe. Seeing its historic masts rise against the imposing backdrop of Dover’s White Cliffs will be an unforgettable sight; it is a unique and monumental opportunity for visitors to have the privilege of stepping onto the very decks that changed our world forever.”
For more information:
Port of Dover – https://www.portofdover.com/
