Dutch Tall Ships Visit Australia

by Dave Walsh (subscribe)

Event: 31/07/2013 - 25/10/2013

Australia is currently being invaded by a small fleet of Dutch tall ships - large masted sailing vessels from bygone days.



The flotilla of three 90-plus year old ships are sailing via Fremantle, Adelaide, Melbourne and Hobart to Sydney, where they will take part in centenary celebrations for the Royal Australian Navy. Unlike a previous visit by the Russian Navy, there is no reason for Adelaide residents to panic!



The three Dutch ships are the three-masted schooner Oosterschelde, the bark Europa, and the ketch Tecla. The sight of these vessels with sails billowing is truly something to transport you back to another time.

The Oosterschelde is the largest restored Dutch sailing ship, and has sailed around the world since she was restored in 1992.



The bark Europa was built in 1911 and has 14 professional crew and can take up to 48 paying crew members - age and nationality are no problem. While a journey on the Europa could be really romantic, anyone having a problem with heights will be staying well clear of climbing its masts.



The third Dutch ship Tecla is somewhat smaller and is sailed by a family of only four professional sailors. As with all three ships, the appearance of the Tecla is kept as traditional as possible, and polished wood and ropes dominate the deckscape.



In Adelaide the Dutch ships were joined by local ships One and All and Falie to form the largest fleet of tall ships stationed at the Port Adelaide for 25 years. Another later arrival was the British full-rigger Lord Nelson, also on its way to Sydney.



At other ports even more tall ships will join in the celebrations, such as the Windeward Bound which sails from Melbourne to take part in Tall Ships Hobart 2013 from September 20-25.



Melbourne is hosting the Melbourne International Tall Ship Festival from September 6-15, but at time of writing the line-up of local vessels taking part was not available.

The Sydney International Tall Ship Festival from October 3-10 will kick off with a fleet of Tall Ships led by the Australian vessel STS Young Endeavour. It will pass Sydney Heads and sail across Sydney Harbour to berth in Darling Harbour, Cockle Bay, Garden Island and Barangaroo.



All of the ships are available to take paying passengers on legs of the journey, and will also do day trips at port.



If going out on the open sea isn't your thing, why not just take part in the festivities to celebrate their arrival, and perhaps do a tour of the boats while in port for the price of a gold coin? It's a once in a lifetime opportunity, and a feast of fun for the family!



For more information about the Dutch ships see their website, while this website gives lots of information about the tall ship festivals around the country.

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Why? See sailing ships from the past

When: See website

Website: www.tallshipfestival2013.com

Where: Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Hobart, Sydney

Cost: Free to watch

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