Sailing the DUYFKEN

A series of Videos about the DUYFKEN’s 2023 round Voyage from Sydney to the AWBF and home again -by Paul da Roza

Those of you who were at the AWBF this year will no doubt remember the extraordinary shape of the Replica DUYFKEN as you walked past her bows while she was in her berth on the Elizabeth St Pier in Hobart. We have written about the DUYFKEN before in SWS, and there is always enormous interest in this bizarre looking (to 21 century eyes)

The original Duyfken or Little Dove—was, 80 feet long, shoal draft and carvel planked. She had three masts and a total of six working sails, lateen mizzen, square sails on fore and main masts and what was known as a sprit sail flown under the bow sprit. She was fast, sturdy and had a relatively small crew of 20. Her design was a “jacht," which in 16th century Holland meant “hunter” or “persuer." She was built in Holland in 1595. She had sailed to Java in 1601 and was purchased there by Dutch East India Company in 1603, then sailed back to Amsterdam. On that return voyage to Amsterdam, off the Southern tip of Africa ,close to where Dias’ ship had disappeared, Duyfken became separated from the other ships in the convoy and went on alone. She arrived in Holland two months before the other ships.

As you can see from Paul’s films, sailing a Tall Ship like DUYFKEN isn’t for everyone, but is your the sort of person who likes a bit of adventure, doesn’t need to wash three times a day, and understands the meaning of teamwork then get involved!