The first documented European to land on Australia was the Dutch navigator Willem Janszoon aboard the Duyfken in March 1606. Duyfken was also one of the first Dutch ships to got directly to the East Indies to load spices. The Dutch would long dominate the trade with the Spice Islands and ruled the Dutch East indies, now Indonesia, for centuries.
In October 2012, the Dutch tall ships the bark Europa and topsail schooner Oosterschelde will again sail the ancient trade routes. The Oosterschelde will sail from Rotterdam and rendezvous in Capetown with the Europa which will be returning from an Antarctic cruise. Other sailing vessels may be joining the rendezvous including the two mast herring drifter Tecla. From Capetown they will sail together to Madagascar, Mauritius, Reunion, Fremantle and on to Jakarta. From there they will set a course for Adelaide, Melbourne and Hobart. The ships are looking for voyage crew members to join the ships. Follow the link below for more information. Thanks to Dexter Donham at Sailing Ship Adventures for pointing the expedition out.
While the above paragraph, copied from the tall’s ships’ site, states 2012 – on further reading, it appears to me to be a misprint and the date is October 2013.
I always wanted to sail on Europa and this may be my chance when it comes to Australia.
Something seems wrong with the information on the site. If the Oosterschelde departs Rotterdam in October 2013 , she can’t be in Syndey on October 4, 2013. Departing Rotterdam in 2012 doesn’t make sense either. Curious. We have emailed the voyage promoters with questions and will report back with their response.
I see stories like this and know I was born 400 years too late. Ah, to have been on a Dutch tall ship in the 1600s! Not very comfortable or sanitary, but what an adventure, even as a simple seaman. I romanticize, I know, but tall ships do that to me.
Europa will start from Amsterdam on 09 september 2012 (and reach Perth on 29 july 2013),
Oosterschelde from Rotterdam on 03 november 2012,
Tecla from Den Helder on 10 november 2012.
They will be sailing the Tall Ships Races in Australia/New Zeland from13 september 2013 to 26 october 2013.
Regards
M.S
My wife intend to travel with Oosterschelde from the Cape Verdes to Brasil and South Africa next year. We would interested in hearing from anyone who has made an extended crossing with her about life on board. We have sailed with the Europa and thoroughly enjoyed the time at sea. We are hoping for more of the same on the Oosterschelde.