HISTORY

The San Felipe, launched in 1690, was one of the most beautiful Spanish galleons of the 17th century. She was a lead ship of the famous Spanish Armada. The San Felipe displaced more than 1000 tons and was armed with 104 guns, enabling her to take on the most formidable ships in the French and British navies. The San Felipe's role in the war against the British and French was to help protect Spanish settlements and harbors, to transport treasures, and to safeguard the long and hazardous passage back to Spanish ports. In 1705, she participated in a furious and heroic battle between 12 Spanish ships and 35 British ships. After 24 hours of battle, she was captured by an English ship, but was so badly damaged that she could not be salvaged as a prize. She went down to the bottom of the ocean with several tons of gold.

The Reality: The San Felipe is one of the most favoured ships among ship model builders. The model is elegant, very beautifully designed, and makes a decorative piece of art to be displayed at home or office. Doubts on San Felipe's historic authenticity have been heard many times, mainly in forums on ship history and ship modelling. There was the contribution of Toni Alvarez Silva of April 1999, who went three times to the Museo Naval in Madrid. He could not get any information whether the San Felipe existed or not. ...

FEATURE

Dimension approx: 80L x 70H x 28W (cm)

The model is hand-crafted from hard wood with planks on frame construction and painted. The model is fully assembled and ready for display. The model is perfect gift for home, hotel, office decoration; boat enthusiast or passionate collector. The model is made by skillful master craftsmen.