Sutil (ship) facts for kids
A drawing of Sutil (right) and Mexicana (left) exploring the coast of Vancouver Island in 1792. The drawing was made by crew member José Cardero. Mount Baker can be seen in the background.
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Quick facts for kids History |
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.svg){kind=small} Spain |
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| Name | Sutil |
| Ordered | 1791 |
| Builder | Manuel Bastarrachea, San Blas shipyard, New Spain |
| Cost | 8,967 pesos (1791) |
| Laid down | 23 September 1791 |
| Launched | 8 March 1792 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | goleta (schooner, rigged as a brig) |
| Tons burthen | 33 toneladas |
| Length | 14 m (46 ft) |
| Beam | 3.69 m (12.1 ft) |
| Draft |
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| Depth of hold | 2.32 m (7.6 ft) |
| Propulsion | Sails, oars |
| Sail plan | Brig rigged on two masts; main and fore courses, topsails, topgallants, staysails, studding sails; spanker, jib, and flying jib |
| Complement | 20 officers, crew, and servant |
Sutil was a small but important ship built by the Spanish Navy in 1791. Its name means "Subtle" in English. It was a special type of ship called a goleta, which is Spanish for schooner. It was built at the San Blas shipyard in what is now Mexico, along with its nearly identical sister ship, Mexicana.
The main mission for Sutil and Mexicana was to explore the Strait of Georgia, a large body of water in the Pacific Northwest. In 1792, the two ships, led by commanders Dionisio Alcalá Galiano on Sutil and Cayetano Valdés y Flores on Mexicana, set out on their adventure.
During their journey, they had a surprise meeting with two British ships led by Captain George Vancouver. The British were also exploring the same area. Instead of competing, the Spanish and British expeditions decided to work together. They shared maps and information, and together they proved that Vancouver Island was an island, not part of the mainland. After this famous voyage, Sutil continued to sail for Spain, making trips along the coast of North America.
Contents
Building the Exploration Ships
In the late 1700s, Spain needed more ships to explore and protect its territories in North America. The commander of the San Blas Naval Base, Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra, ordered four new ships to be built. Two of these were the twin schooners, Sutil and Mexicana.
The decision to send them to explore the Strait of Georgia came from another famous explorer, Alessandro Malaspina. He had just returned from a trip to Alaska and heard about the discovery of the strait. He knew it was important to explore it further. Malaspina suggested that two of his own skilled officers, Galiano and Valdés, should lead the expedition. The Viceroy of New Spain, who was like a governor for the region, agreed.
Sutil was built quickly, starting in September 1791 and finishing just two months later. It was a small ship, about 14 meters (46 feet) long. Although it was called a schooner, its sails were set up like a brig, a type of ship with two masts and square sails. This design was meant to help it sail well in different wind conditions. It also had oars for moving when there was no wind.
A Voyage of Discovery
Getting Ready to Sail
Before their big trip, Sutil and Mexicana were sent to Acapulco to be prepared for the long journey. The crews discovered that the ships had some problems with their construction and needed to be made stronger. After some repairs, they set sail from Acapulco on March 8, 1792.
The journey north was not easy. At one point, Mexicana broke its mainmast while far out at sea. The crew managed to make a temporary repair, and the ships continued to Nootka Sound on the west coast of Vancouver Island. At the Spanish base there, both ships were fully repaired and made ready for their exploration mission.
Meeting Captain Vancouver
In early June, Sutil and Mexicana sailed into the Strait of Juan de Fuca and then north into the Strait of Georgia. Near what is now the city of Vancouver, they came across two British ships: HMS Discovery and HMS Chatham. These ships were part of the Vancouver Expedition, led by Captain George Vancouver.
The two groups of explorers were surprised to meet each other so far from home, but they were friendly. They agreed to share their maps and explore the complicated network of channels and islands together. For a while, the Spanish and British ships sailed side-by-side, mapping the coastline.
Proving Vancouver Island is an Island
The biggest achievement of their joint mission was proving that Vancouver Island was not connected to the mainland. The ships sailed through the narrow channels between the island and the coast of British Columbia. After navigating the difficult waters, they came out into the open ocean on the other side.
The Spanish and British expeditions then went their separate ways to return to Nootka Sound. By sailing completely around the landmass, they had confirmed it was a huge island. This was a major geographic discovery for Europeans at the time.
After the voyage, Captain Vancouver wrote about the Spanish ships. He said he was "astonished" that such small and cramped vessels were used for such a difficult mission. He noted that the sailors had very little room, with just enough space for sleeping and a small table where four people could barely sit. This shows how tough the conditions were for the crews of Sutil and Mexicana.
Later Missions
After its famous 1792 voyage, Sutil continued to serve the Spanish Navy. In 1793, it was sent north from California to find a good place for a new Spanish settlement. The ship's commander, Juan Bautista Matute, explored Bodega Bay and Tomales Bay but decided they were not suitable for a new base.
Sutil was seen again at Nootka Sound in 1796. The ship played a small but vital role in the history of exploration in the Pacific Northwest, helping to map one of the most complex coastlines in the world.
See also
