Batavia Longboat Replica

I'm so happy and excited to have the opportunity to go sailing on this Replica boat today. Roger and I have enjoyed listening to the audiobook Batavia by Peter Fitzsimmons - so this will be 'a peek' for me to get an idea for what it was like to be a survivor on the Longboat. I still have no comprehension of how they managed it! Back in 1629, 48 people all survived a 2890km journey with next to no food and drink aboard, including women and a baby.
This Replica (full scale) was built by TAFE students (started in 2001 - launched boat 2003) while doing their trade school and funded by private organisations. So really a unique boat to have the chance to cruise in.
The Batavia Coast Replica Boat Association currently offer monthly open day sailing - usually held on the last Sunday of the month from 10am. No charge - but donations welcomed or annual membership to the Association encouraged. I decided to pay the $30 family membership ($20 single) so I can say I have part ownership in a sailing boat! Worth every cent! In fact if I'd just paid a donation I would've paid more.
We went out on the water for around an hour, there was definitely enough breeze to use the sails. Only used the motor (which of course was not on the original) for getting off and into mooring. There was 9 onboard, 6 being crew and 3 'cruisers' including me. I was the only female on board today. I had a wow of a time, loved it. Great day for it. PS Did get to see the sealions sunbathing on the rocks - just didn't zoom my phone camera enough to show them up!Read more