The Nodal brothers – The unsung heroes of seafaring, Galicia and Spain
Bartolome and Gonzalo Garcia del Nodal were tough seafaring brothers whose daring exploits have not gained the recognition in history they deserve. Hailing from the north-western port of Pontevedra, Galicia in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, these hard-hitting Spaniards had many a victory on the high seas.
The name Nodal was a name to be feared as no quarter would be given in a battle against Bartolome and Gonzalo Garcia del Nodal.
During this time England was at relentless war with Spain and the Spanish named our English sea captain, Sir Francis Drake the “Scourge of God”. Spain became weary of Drake’s raids along the unprotected South American Pacific coast.
The Spanish used the heavily fortified Magellan Straight to enter the Pacific from the Atlantic but there were other ways through and Sir Francis Drake knew of it. The Spanish authorities were naturally peeved when two Dutch sailors, Le Maire and Schouten, returned from the New World with a story of a new way through to the Pacific. The Nodal brothers were given two ships and set sail from Lisbon to South America to see if the story was correct.
The expedition was a resounding success and the brothers soon found out that the Dutchmen had indeed discovered a new way to enter the Pacific Ocean via what we know today as the Straight of La Maire.
The Nodals also discovered the Diego Ramirez Islands, which have proved a crucial discovery in terms of navigation. The fearless duo sailed through the Drake Passage, rounded Cape Horn and cruised up the Pacific coast to skilfully enter the Magellan straight from the West, mapping all the way.
The Nodal brothers were back in Spain six months after leaving Lisbon. Not a single life was lost on this great voyage and the information Spanish shipping received as a result of the mapping was second to none. It was a fantastic expedition, one of the best in Maritime history.
Bartolome Garcia del Nodal wrote a book about the adventure which includes charts of the voyage. If you had an original copy it would be unlikely to sell for less than £100,000. So if you see Bartolome Garcia del Nodal’s book of this tremendous expedition in a Galician bookshop and the shopkeeper asks 10 euros for it, then please do not haggle!
When you stroll along the charismatic waterfront in the pretty town of Pontevedra you may consider these valiant Galician brothers and what they achieved for maritime history – the unsung heroes of seafaring, Galicia and Spain.