33 38.4s 151 25.9e
"Exultation is the going
Of an inland soul to sea,
Past the houses - Past the headlands -
Into deep Eternity -
Bred as we among the mountains,
Can the sailor under stand
The devine intoxication
Of the first league out from land?"
Emily Dickenson 1890.
We are under way! and as a sailor of many thousands of miles I can certainly appreciate the exultation. Finaly after two weeks of very hard work as we prepared the Duyfken for the voyage of a life time we are at sea. Even though we have rain there is a beautiful southerly breeze and we are making 5 knots in our intended direction. Makes you feel good to be alive.
The day started early with a 0600 start for myself but not as early as Heidy had as she was up for a 0530 radio interview with a radio station in the Netherlands. The weather was fine and with almost no breeze promised, a good day to have the departure celebrations. I must say that I was somewhat keen to get out to sea as I was fairly worn out with putting this all together. It has all been a bit of a rush.
Initially I was on for the trip as the Mate with a short spell as Master, but then the decision was made that I would be Master for the trip from Jakarta onwards, this soon changed to my being Master as of Port Douglas. Finally, Gary decided that he would like to leave before we departed Sydney and so last Friday I was offered the job starting immediately. This was a bit of a big call for me as I had not participated in any of the planning stages for the voyage. What made the decision for me was that the Duyfken is a fine little vessel and the crew that I was with who were coming along were a group of individuals who I enjoy being with. I thought that with a group such as this we had a very good chance of completing our trip and have a lot of fun along the way. I have not regretted that decision in any way.
As we selected the crew all began to mesh into a hard working team and made the job of fitting out the ship a pleasure. All morning I have been besieged with phone calls from radio stations and news papers, how mobiles have changed our lives and I am glad they will soon be turned off. By 1030 we had the dock full of well wishers and media. There was a series of speeches and representatives from Holland were present at the handing over of my charter. These are the instructions from the foundation for the voyage. Traditionally the Dutch East Indies Company (VOC) would have given each Captain a similar set of orders.
Finally the moment had arrived and as the crew jumped back onto the vessel and prepared to depart. Wouldn't you know it, I was being asked to give an interview for SBS. At last I was aboard and we were letting go of the mooring lines with little wind. It was easy to motor the vessel out of the dock and into Darling Harbour for the trip out through Port Jackson. We had the privilege to be escorted by two tall ships, the La Violante and the Windward bound along with a small squadron of yachts.
Sails were set before the Bridge and we motored out with all sails set and aback past the Opera house, Fort Denison the Sow and Pigs and finally out through the heads into the Pacific. At first the wind was a light easterly with a large swell making the vessel roll in a long easy fashion. I was not on watch and the wind was fine on the starboard bow with the vessel moving slowly north. I decided that it was time to sort out the aft cabin so that Alan and I would have some place to sleep. Three hours later I had finished and had my Hammock slung, my gear stowed. I was now ready for the voyage.
Glenn R. Williams
Master
