82 days at sea, and Phoenicia reaches the Azores
by Nancy Knudsen on 17 Jul 2010
Phoenicia under sail in the Atlantic - photo by Rachel Severson of yacht Sophia SW
It has been the longest and most challenging leg of their journey, but the Phoenicia, the replica of a 600BC Phoenician vessel which it is believed circumnavigated Africa, has reached the Azores.
The journey covered over 3500miles, with eight crew members, and proved that the sturdy vessel, faithfully recreated according to the mode of its era, could withstand the challenging conditions of the Atlantic Ocean.
The Phoenicia arrived in Flores, the most westerly island in the Azores this week, and is now anchored there.
Three additional crew members will join the vessel from Marina de Horta, before she will set off on her next leg to Gibraltar.
During the journey from Cape Town to the Azores, the Phoenicia passed yacht Sophia, crewed by Carl and Rachel Severson, who took hard-to-get photos of the vessel, shown here.
About the Phoenicia Expedition:
Over two and a half thousand years ago one of the greatest journeys in mankind's history began on the Egyptian shores of the Red Sea. Greek Historian Herodotus tells us how, in 600 BC, Phoenician mariners achieved the first circumnavigation of Africa, a voyage into unknown waters previously considered too dangerous to attempt.
In 2008-2010 a reconstruction of a Phoenician / Mediterranean trading vessel, built at the ancient Phoenician port of Arwad, embarked on a journey to re-trace the Phoenicians' route around Africa. Re-creating this historical voyage is the major objective of the Phoenician Ship Expedition.
The Phoenician Ship Expedition launched from Arwad, Syria in August 2008, to sail through the Suez Canal, and into the Red Sea. Phase One of the expedition was completed when Phoenicia reached the Republic of Yemen.
Phase Two launched in August 2009 and saw Phoenicia round the Horn of Africa, making a wide berth to avoid the pirate zone, and sailed to Cape Town.
After sailing to Gibraltar then back to the home port of Arwad, the circumnavigation will be followed by another voyage to bring the ship to the United Kingdom, where it will be exhibited in a British Museum.
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