Operation Drake

For the World War II military Operation Drake, see Battle of Goodenough Island.

Operation Drake (1978–1980) was a round-the-world voyage with the participation of young people from many countries. The voyage was centred around the brigantine Eye of the Wind. She left Plymouth in October 1978 and returned to London two years later, in December 1980.

Named after Sir Francis Drake, who had circumnavigated the world four hundred years before on the Golden Hind. Operation Drake was divided up onto 9 ocean and 1 land based phases, each lasting about 3 months. On each phase, a number of Young Explorers, youngsters aged between seventeen and twenty-four, who were selected from countries all over the world, worked together on serious scientific exploration, research and community projects.

The expedition was mounted by the Scientific Exploration Society, and the expedition leader was Colonel John Blashford-Snell. HRH Charles, Prince of Wales was the Patron of Operation Drake.

Published Books

• "Operation Drake", by John Blashford-Snell (W.H. Allen, London 1981, ISBN 0491029659)
• "In the Eye of the Wind", by Roger Chapman (Hamish Hamilton, London 1982, ISBN 0241107644)
• "Operation Drake - Voyage of Discovery", by Andrew W. Mitchell (Wm Collins & Sons & Co, 1982, ISBN 0727820079)

External links

• Eye of the Wind - Present owners
• Eye of the Wind - 1973-2001
• Pictures of "Eye of the Wind"
• Operation Drake Pictures - April to December 1980 (Borkur Arnvidarson)