The Matthew was a small, 50-ton caravel used by John Cabot in 1497 during his pioneering voyage from Bristol to Newfoundland. Constructed from oak and Douglas fir, the vessel was a modest-sized ship, measuring approximately 78 feet (24 meters) in length overall, with a beam of 20 feet 6 inches (6.25 meters) and a draft of 7 feet (2.1 meters). Equipped with a sail area of roughly 2,360 square feet (219 square meters), the ship featured a combination of traditional maritime design and modern additions, including a diesel engine and radio equipment, which were not present during the original period. Historically, the vessel’s origins remain somewhat uncertain. It does not appear in the 1492/3 customs accounts, suggesting it may have been a relatively new or previously existing Bristol merchant ship, possibly renamed "Matthew" or called "Mattea," after Cabot’s wife. Its size and details were better documented after a 1497 letter from merchant John Day, describing a ship of about fifty "toneles" with a crew of approximately 20 men. The ship's age and precise history are ambiguous, and it is believed to have been either a hired merchant vessel or an older ship repurposed for Cabot's expedition. The vessel's most notable service was Cabot’s 1497 voyage, during which it sailed westward from Bristol with a crew of just 18 men, aiming for Asia but reaching North America instead. The ship's landing in Newfoundland on June 24, 1497, marks a significant milestone in European exploration. After exploring the coast, Cabot returned to Bristol in August of the same year. A full-scale replica of the Matthew was built in Bristol between 1994 and 1996, costing approximately $3.8 million, and was used to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Cabot’s voyage. This replica, now owned by the Bristol Trust, serves as a maritime heritage monument, participating in events such as the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee pageant in 2012. Additionally, a second replica built in Bonavista, Newfoundland, in 1997–98, serves as an interpretive centre and tourist attraction, further emphasizing the ship’s historical and cultural significance.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.