Nova Albion

More than 30 years would pass before there would be another expedition to the northern most point of California. Although the Spanish Empire claimed during the 1500s, the area that now comprises Del Norte County, it was an Englishman who became the first European to make landfall on the Northcoast.

Francis Drake, commanding the Golden Hind, sailed into the Pacific Ocean around the tip of South America in 1578, working his way north past Peru and Panama. His crew of privateers plundered several Spanish colonial towns and ships along the way.

Just as his ship and crew were reaching 43 degrees north latitude, heavy, cold winds forced the Golden Hind towards the shoreline. He anchored in a bay exposed to wind gusts, rain and heavy fog.

When the weather became more moderate, he turned south, traveling during the day and anchoring at night for nearly two weeks. He sought a harbor where he could fix the ship’s leaks and go ashore for food and fresh water.

Among the places he passed up to anchor was the Crescent City reef.

Eventually he stopped somewhere between Crescent City and Point Loma, making contact with Indians and restocked his ship. Drake claimed the Northcoast for England, calling it Nova Albion.

Legend says that some of his men stayed ashore to start a small colony. But Drake’s mission largely was about plundering Spanish galleons and colonial towns.

England never sent a ship to check on this alleged colony.

Drake ultimately would become famous for helping the English defeat the great Spanish Armada in 1588. He served as second-in-command of the English fleet during that attack.