Galleons were intended to discover and establish trade routes between Spain, the Americas and the Philippine Islands, forming what was then called the ‘Fleet of the Indies’. These ships were the type of vessel used by the Spanish Crown for maritime expeditions from the 16th through to the 18th centuries. For 300 years, Spanish galleons crossed the Atlantic Ocean back and forth, sailed the Caribbean and the Americas, and traversed the Pacific. They carried plenty of seamen, merchant traders and settlers to the New World, returning home with holds full of gold and the fabulous fruits of the American and Asian trade.
In New Zealand, despite Spain’s maritime history, we don’t often consider Spanish-designed and built boats. But I suspect our perspective might begin to change with the 37th America’s Cup being held on the east coast of Spain – and the growing number of new Rodman boats arriving in New Zealand ready to explore our shores.
Rodman Group, Spain’s oldest company in this sector, designs and builds Rodman boats. The company has been shipbuilding since
