As the VOC2002 Duyfken Voyagie draws to a close, it is clear that the Voyage could not have been achieved without an enormous team effort from people around the globe.

Duyfken Project Director Graeme Cocks said that the success of Duyfken in 2001/2002 was a result of work by the crew, the shore team, the board of management and volunteer supporters in each port the ship visited. He said he would like to pay tribute to all involved with the VOC2002 Duyfken Voyagie.

"Duyfken has been, and always will be, a project which is driven by the individual enthusiasm of many people," he said.

"For example, our crew came together at very short notice in Sydney and they have all done a wonderful job sailing Duyfken to Europe."

Mr Cocks said that the Duyfken crew on this voyage comprised Glenn Williams as Master, Ed Biermans as Chief Officer, Greg O'Byrne as Second Mate, Alan Campbell as Watch Officer/Engineer, Julie Milne as Cook, Mike Redding as Ship's Carpenter/Photographer/Filmmaker and crew including Nic Gardner, Bob Looijschelder, John Quigley, Alice Turnbull, Walter Walker, Brett Yaes, Shannon McGuire, Stijn Somers, Christine Henschien, Heidy Bontjer, James Holdsworth, Cian Pereira, Nick Burningham, Andrea Cicholas, Davina Taylor and Shaun Piggin.

"Greg O'Byrne and Nic Gardner have given fine service to the Duyfken Foundation since they joined in Fremantle," he said.

"Glenn Williams and Ed Biermans have formed a management team aboard the ship since Cape Town, while Andrea Cicholas was Chief Officer for the voyage through the Indian Ocean.

"Alan Campbell has been a fine engineer and sailor aboard and one of the people who has bound the onboard team together.

"Ship's Cook Julie Milne proved that small galleys can still produce fine meals and Julie has achieved incredible results day after day of the year long voyage.

"Mike Redding is one of the ship's great enthusiasts who has created wooden solutions for problems aboard, while also taking magnificent shots of the life aboard, and shooting raw video footage which the Foundation hopes to use to interest a film production company into making a documentary of the voyage.

"Bob Looijschelder has been another very able sailor aboard Duyfken who has got a taste of the life of his Dutch forebears.

"John Quigley brought to the Duyfken experience on other sailing ships around the world, as well as great enthusiasm for the project.

"Alice Turnbull has been one of the most reliable members of the Duyfken team.

"Walter Walker, who has assisted Alan Campbell with engineering duties, as well as sailing is a Duyfken success story, joining the crew after a leadership training course conducted by past Duyfken sponsor Chevron in Queensland. Walter is proof that saling ships can change people's lives."

Mr Cocks said that sheer enthusiasm can often substitute for a lack of experience. He said that Duyfken crew member Brett Yates hounded the Foundation with regular phone calls until he secured the most insignificant job aboard for the expedition. He became one of the best workers the Foundation has employed.

"Shannon Maguire was another crew member who came aboard offering to do anything that was needed and took control of the ship's on-board accounts as well as sailing duties.

"Stijn Somers and Christine Henschien joined Duyfken in Jakarta after working for the ship Batavia and brought with them a depth of experience as well as the ability to work with the crew.

"Heidy Bontjer has experienced the highs and the lows of life aboard but she has maintained her enthusiasm for the ideals of the Foundation.

"James Holdsworth sailed aboard Duyfken on several occasions. A keen supporter of Duyfken, he will coordinate the volunteer guides while the ship is in The Netherlands."

"Cian Pereira has also re-joined the vessel after assisting the Duyfken Foundation during the Chevron 2000 Duyfken Expedition."

Mr Cocks said that Duyfken's shore team was every bit as important as the team aboard. For the last 18 months, the shore team has been maintaining the operations of the Foundation as well as arranging all the ship's port visits. He said it had been an enormous job to ensure that Duyfken was welcomed in each port, all services the ship required were available, that the ship's visit made a positive impact on the local community and the ship was able to go to sea again in as short a time as possible.

The shore team comprises Tracy McCullough, Peggy Rogers and Michiel van Doorn who work from Perth in Western Australia.

Mr Cocks said that the Board of the Duyfken 1606 Replica Foundation provided an important policy and monitoring role on the voyage and the Foundation's operations, regularly meeting to discuss the ship's progress. The board comprises Chairman Rinze Brandsma, and Board Members Charlie Welker, Con Smit, Michael Young, Chris Bourne, Wim Alebeek, David Kerbey and Marc Flory.

In addition to those directly involved with the Duyfken Foundation, the success of Duyfken this year can also be attributed to people in ports all over the world who have helped make the ship's visit a celebration for the local community and to act as the catalyst for people to look at their own history. People such as Tanya Alwi and Robert Silalahi in Jakarta, Maria Poulos in Colombo, Bruce and Lorraine Fellsmith in Galle, Ben Payen in Mauritius, Nick Malherbe in Cape Town, and Hans van der Veen in Namibia are just some of the people who have made the voyage a success.

"Duyfken is now entering a new phase of her history, with Benno van Tilburg and Marit van Huystee arranging a magnificent exhibition tour of The Netherlands," said Mr Cocks.

Duyfken's arrival in Texel on 28 April 2002 also is a tribute to the shipbuilders, the Friends of the Duyfken, the volunteer guides and all of the people who have been involved with Duyfken since Michael Young and James Henderson got together to discuss the concept in 1993.