Mexicana (ship)
The Mexicana (left, following) and Sutil (right, leading) during the 1792 voyage around Vancouver Island, drawn by José Cardero. Galiano's pennant flies from the mainmast of the Sutil. The Mexicana is spilling the wind from her sails to slow the ship. Mount Baker is in the background.
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| History | |
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.svg){kind=small} Spain
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| Name: | Mexicana |
| Ordered: | 1791 |
| Builder: | Manuel Bastarrachea, San Blas shipyard, New Spain |
| Cost: | 10,513 pesos (1791) |
| Laid down: | 27 March 1791 |
| Launched: | 21 May 1791 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | goleta (modified topsail schooner-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: | Modified topsail schooner-brig rigged on two masts |
| Complement: | 21 officers, crew, servant, and artist |
The Mexicana was a topsail schooner (Spanish goleta) built in 1791 by the Spanish Navy at San Blas, New Spain. It was nearly identical to the Sutil, also built at San Blas later in 1791. Both vessels were built for exploring the newly discovered Strait of Georgia, carried out in 1792 under Dionisio Alcalá Galiano, on the Sutil, and Cayetano Valdés y Flores, on the Mexicana. During this voyage the two Spanish vessels encountered the two British vessels under George Vancouver, HMS Discovery and Chatham, which were also engaged in exploring the Strait of Georgia. The two expeditions cooperated in surveying the complex channels between the Strait of Georgia and Queen Charlotte Strait, in the process proving the insularity of Vancouver Island. After this first voyage the Mexicana continued to serve the San Blas Naval Department, making various voyages to Alta California and the Pacific Northwest coast.
To meet the need for additional ships following the 1789 Nootka Crisis, Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra, commandant of the San Blas Naval Base, augmented his small fleet. Four new vessels built, the schooners Valdés and Activa, and the twin schooners Mexicana and Sutil. Construction of the Mexicana began on 27 March 1791, under the direction of the shipyard constructor Manuel Bastarrachea and according to Bodega y Quadra's specifications. The Mexicana was launched on 21 May 1791.
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Wikipedia