'Old' Hampshire - H.M.S. Victory

As of July 30, 2008 at 7:00 AM
Steps: 4,207,286
Miles: 1765.49
Miles to Finish Line: 280.51

The Virtual Walker decided to turn "sailor" for the day, and take a side trip to "Old" Hampshire, England.


This is the ship that could rightly claim to be the pride of Britain's Naval forces. She is Nelson's flagship, H.M.S. Victory, the World's oldest commissioned warship, which remains more or less as it was at the Battle of Trafalgar. After seeing almost 220 years of continuous service, the Victory remains at Portsmouth's Royal Naval Dockyard, she is still manned by Officers and Ratings, and fulfils both practical and ceremonial roles for the Royal Navy.

H.M.S. Victory is beautifully preserved, retaining the gracefulness of a well-built sailing ship and still having the artillery that made her the ship that ruled the high seas and gave Admiral Lord Nelson his triumphant, final victory. Her fighting prowess is the stuff legends are made of, at Trafalgar she had 100 guns and a crew of 800 men. Victory was one of the largest warships the Royal Navy sent into battle.


The ship took over six years to build, during this time the wood from over 6,000 trees was used of which 90% was oak. She was launched in 1765 at Chatham Dockyard and was commissioned in 1778. In terms of today's value, the estimated building cost of Victory would be a staggering fifty million pounds (roughly $100 million US!) - at the time she was built costs amounted to £63,175.00 / $125,000 US.

Victory is now famous as a floating museum, visitors can see relics of Admiral Nelson and his navy as well as model ships and magnificent figure-heads. The ship combines her role as museum with that of the flagship of the Commander-in-Chief of Naval Home Command.


This historic ship offers everyone an interesting visit, one can explore at close quarters how it was that Nelson's tactics won the Battle of Trafalgar, thus making Victory and the British Navy the envy of the world.

After a visit, one can go up the road a ways and find a place to sit and enjoy both some refreshment and the natives penchant for lovely flower baskets and pots - you may even see a dandelion and a chicken or three somewhere.