Do the Duyfken around Australia

Those averse to hard work and sea sickness need not apply. The Note has noticed the Duyfken replica is celebrating its 400th anniversary of its arrival to our shores and needs new crew to come aboard and replicate the Dutch ship’s original voyage. The voyage will commemorate the first recorded European visit to Australia in history, when in 1606 Captain Willem Janszoon sailed the small Dutch ship, Duyfken, from Indonesia to Australia. Volunteers and professional crew will sail the high seas next year in nine stages and will be responsible for placing the ship on public display when it takes in 25 ports in six Australian states. Duyfken Replica Foundation chairman, Peter Tagliaferri, said the crew will at times be wet and miserable in icy seas and great swells, but will also come away with a great sense of accomplishment. Abel Tasman in 1642 was the last great explorer to attempt the Southern Ocean crossing in a Dutch ‘yacht’, according to Mr Tagliaferri. "The skills of those days have been rediscovered thanks to the Duyfken replica and I believe that experienced sailors will relish this opportunity to sail on this wonderful vessel," he said. The first stage will take in some prime WA coastline, beginning in Fremantle on March 29 and stopping at Bunbury, Albany and finally Esperance on April 27.