In 1789 the English Royal Navy Cutter the Bounty commanded by Lieutenant William Bligh was overtaken by 18 crew led by Master's Mate Fletcher Christian in what has been named the "Mutiny on the Bounty." The area known as the Bligh Water is the body of water (approximately 9500 km² in extent) in the western Fiji islands through which Bligh sailed his 7 m (23 ft) launch during his 3,618 mile journey from Tofua to the Dutch port of Timor.