Old Trade Routes Retraced

These vessels recently left a trading post that was starting up around the same decade the sixth boro replaced the initials N. A. for N. Y.

As of this writing, these three vessels are entering the Indian Ocean on a historic re-enactment.

Earlier this month, Colin Syndercombe visited the three vessel at the docks in Cape Town.  Oosterschelde, Europa, and Tecla have an amzing combined age of 295 years!!  Tecla was built in my father’s hometown of Vlaardingen, nine years before my father’s birth.

Preparing to get under way.

Departing on this leg of the trip are some cadets of the South African Navy.

Fair winds . . . bon voyage.

Click here for fares and schedules.  Of note, in August 2013, there’s a sail from Perth to Houtman Abrolhos archipelago and back to Perth.  This picturesque Indian Ocean island chain saw the mutiny and wreck of the VOC ship Batavia on her maiden voyage and the subsequent murders of over 200 survivors by a band of other survivors.  This Lord of the Flies tale serves as basis for the Mike Dash’s compelling account Batavia’s Graveyard, if you’re looking for summer reading.

For an upbeat parting shot, here.

Many thanks to Colin, who has previously sent lots of interesting fotos from 8000 miles away in Cape Town.