HMY Suadadoes

HMY Saudadoes was built in 1670 on the orders of King Charles II of England for his Queen, Catherine of Braganza. It was used for pleasure trips on the Thames and to maintain communications with the Queen's homeland of Portugal, making the journey twice.

Size

As built the yacht had an approximate tonnage of 86 tons, drawing 8 feet, with a beam of 18 feet and a length over all of 50 feet. The vessel was more than doubled in tonnage to 188 tons when rebuilt in 1674, becoming a sixth-rate of 16 guns. This "rebuild" may in fact denote the transfer of the name to a completely different vessel:

"This vessel is supposed to have been commissioned as a substitute for a yacht, and specially destined to the queen's use. The idea appears in some measure confirmed, by a note relative to captain Jennifer's appointment, in which it is said to have been made by the queen herself." ---Biographia Navalis. J. Charnock, 1794.

The aforesaid Capt. Jenifer was appointed to command the Saudadoes in December 1674.

Name

The vessel's unusual name is Portuguese (correctly Saudadões) and would normally be written Saudades today. The name was evidently chosen by Queen Catherine herself, and gives an insight into her character expressing as it does feelings of wistful longing for an absent person or place left behind. (Strictly, the word saudadões would indicate a great longing.) The spelling of this ship's name in naval documents seems to vary: usually Suadadoes, but sometimes Sandadoe, Sandadoes, Sandados, Sandados, Saudados, Suadades, or Suadadoes.