The Peregrine Gally
Written By John Luberti
P.02
The Peregrine Galley was built at the Depford Dockyard, on the River Thames in 1700. Right from this point there are conflicting names and stories with regards to who designed the Peregrine Galley. From the history noted in Anatomy of the Ship's 'The Royal Yacht Caroline 1749', and more likely to be the accurate account she was designed by an amateur, Peregrine, Lord Danby. The brief history that accompanied Sergal's model states the designer and builder was Master Shipwright, William Lee who if memory serves worked closely with Peter the Great from Russia who was in England at the time learning about Ship Building by working along side the best shipwrights of the time in England.
Proof of this can be seen today. The knowledge Peter brought home with him allowed Russia to build it's first modern Navy. During a History Channel program on the subject of Peter the Great, video was often shown from time to time of what these first Navy ships looked like. They showed footage a beautiful full scale replica with all sheets in the wind at sea. There was no mistaking the lines of the replica, they were nearly identical to the Peregrine Galley. They also showed the only surviving Model of these ships in the Russian Naval Museum. Unfortunately not as close a shot as I would have liked and not for long enough, but just enough to for me to know. Both the model and the replica ship were nearly identical to the Peregrine Galley, Ships with Frigate sleek hulls that still had the raised forecastle deck with short rails, raised quarter deck,square rigged, even the position of the catshead and anchors were almost exact. There was no mistaking what I saw. Only the colors used and deck layouts had been changed. By this time my Peregrine had been finished and was sitting above the TV on top of an entertainment center, you can imagine the effect this had on me seeing the model I made actually sailing in rough seas. It was sweet.
More conflicting History can be found between the Anatomy of the Ship's 'The Royal Yacht Caroline 1749' and the History found in the Sergal kit's manual which states that the Peregrine Galley was a 'Runner Class' vessel built to ferry people to and from the new world. This History goes on to say that the Peregrine was a very different ship then was typically seen in her time and that her lines helped make her among the fastest ships of her class.Eventually her speed would so impress the Royal Family that the ship was commandeered and given a Royal refit which included many of the trappings of Royalty both inside and out. Gilded statues and carvings, fine carpets and furniture, and no doubt the best food as well. The best example of this can be seen in the oppening pages of the book Anatomy of the Ship's 'The Royal Yacht Caroline 1749 where some black and white photos of a scratch built Royal Caroline can be seen. One of the cabin cielings had been removed and a fantastic and well detailed state room can be seen.