Replica of first ship to sail the world heads to Kent

It took six carpenters and five assistants eight months to build the replica Nao Victoria

The only full-scale replica of the first ship to circumnavigate the world is visiting Kent.

The original Nao Victoria, commanded by Juan Sebastian Elcano, left Seville in 1519 and returned in 1522 after circumnavigating the globe for the first time in history.

It was one of five ships, dubbed the Spice Army, to attempt the maritime feat, but was the only one to complete the journey.

The original vessel was lost at sea in the 1570s, but the replica, which was built in Spain in 1991, will be open to visitors when it docks at Chatham Maritime Marina on Wednesday.

Since 2007 the vessel has been managed by Nao Victoria Foundation.

"Our stay in Chatham is part of the European tour that the Nao Victoria is undertaking during 2024 to spread its history and the maritime feats of Spanish navigation" a spokesman said.

Between 2004 and 2006, the replica repeated the journey of the original Nao Victoria, though taking a slightly different route.

Visitors can step on board the ship in dock at Chatham between 10:00 BST and 20:00 until Sunday.