The Matthew of Bristol, Bristol

The Matthew, a caravel that set sail from Bristol to North America in 1497 under the command of John Cabot, has been faithfully reproduced as a replica vessel.

In honor of the 500th anniversary of Cabot's historic journey, the Bristol Classic Boat Company, formerly known as Storms'l Services, meticulously constructed the Matthew replica in Bristol. Naval architect Colin Mudie designed the vessel. The dedication ceremony took place during the inaugural International Festival of the Sea held at Bristol's Floating Harbour in 1996.

The following year, the replica retraced Cabot's original voyage on its momentous 500th anniversary. On June 24, 1997, Queen Elizabeth II warmly welcomed the Matthew replica upon its arrival in Bonavista. Ownership of the Matthew now rests with Bristol Trust, a registered charity responsible for the maintenance and preservation of the ship and its legacy.

The full-scale replica measures 78 feet (24 meters) in length overall, with a beam of 20 feet 6 inches (6.25 meters), a draft of 7 feet (2.1 meters), and a sail area of 2,360 square feet (219 square meters). Constructed primarily of oak and Douglas fir, this replica includes modern additions such as a diesel engine and ship radio, which were unavailable during the medieval era.

On February 29, 2012, ownership of the Matthew was officially transferred to The Matthew of Bristol Trust, and the ship found its new home outside the M Shed museum in Bristol. In June 2012, Matthew participated in the Queen's Diamond Jubilee pageant, joining the flotilla on the River Thames.