The vessel was a replica of John Cabot’s The Matthew, the original of which sailed from Bristol to Newfoundland in Canada in 1497. Cabot is known as one of the greatest explorers of all time.

The replica Matthew was built in 1997 to commemorate the 500 year anniversary of this crossing. It is owned by a charitable trust and run by a Bristol sailing charter company.

The vessel was in Tenby on its way back to Bristol after the summer sailing festival season.

“We just came to Tenby because we thought it looked nice,” said skipper Rob Salvidge.

“People were lovely and were very excited to see the boat in the bay.

“We were invited to join a sailing club barbeque as soon as we came ashore and we had fish and chips in the town in the evening.

“I even bought my wife’s birthday present in Jago. We had a super time and we would like to come back.”

Photography by Kevin Dunphy