In a quick review; the saga of 1629 Batavia pits survivors in a life and death struggle not against nature and the elements but from being in the hands of an authoritative madman. The tale of the 1656 Vergulde Draeck tells of a handful of men set out on an desperate 1400 km trek to Batavia by longboat to organize a rescue expedition only to return to an abandoned campsite, the remaining 68 survivors all gone without a trace.
“Black birds tend to like shiny things.” ~ The Bloody Raven
No survivors of the lost 1712 Zuytdorp ever made their way to Batavia to tell the tale of her demise. It wasn’t until 1964 the discovery of her remains and question asked of the local aboriginal descendants of Shark Bay about old stories on the whereabouts of a strange people of fair complexion. The Malgana man with a hint of fair hair, blue eyes, and goes by the name of Vilhiam just shruggs his shoulders.
Introducing the fourth and last coin of the Australian Shipwrecks series the 2021 Australian $1 The 1727 Zeewijk with a different tale to tell.
The Next Triangular Silver Coin
2021 Australia $1 The 1727 Zeewijk
1725 the Zeewijk was a brand new ship of the VOC, with a new experienced crew, her maiden voyage was assigned to ferry some needed construction supplies and personnel to the colony at the Cape of Good Hope then continue on to Batavia with the remaining cargo and ten chests of silver worth 315,837 Guilders. Before the Zeewijk departed the Port of Remmekens, Captain Jan Bogaard fell ill such that he could not assume effective command, so the ship was placed under a novice Jan Steyns’ as his first command.
My Marleen sterling Pirate Brig broach, posing as this East Indianman.
- Name; The Zeewijk
- Built; 1725 Rammekens Shipyard
- Class; Dutch East Indiaman
- Owner; VOC
- Port Registered; Amsterdam
- Captain; Jan Steyns, replacing Jan Bogaard.
- Crew complement; 212
- Guns; 36 Cannon, 6 Swivel guns.
- Tonnage; 850 Tons
- Length; 145 ft.
- Beam; 36 ft.
- Draft; 17.6 ft.
An East Indianman photo similar to the Zeewijk
It was expected that all VOC ships were to follow the Brouwer Route from the Cape of Good Hope to Batavia. All VOC ships were directed to make an early north to north-east heading by a certain longitude to avoid the treacherous waters off the Western Australian coast. Steyns ignored the VOC orders and the protests from the veteran Steersman then ordering an East by Northeast heading.
On June 9th, 1727 the ship’s watch warned of breakers spotted but Steyns dismissed the sighting as a lunar illusion. At about 7:30 PM, in the dark, the Zeewijk crashed hard into Half Moon Reef just west of the Houtman Abrolhos island group, resulting in the rudder being dislodged and snapping the mainmast. Yet the ship still remained in one piece.
2021 Australia $1 The 1727 Zeewijk
The crew waited a week aboard the ship for the heavy seas to settle before ferrying the remaining survivors to a nearby habitable small island. At this point there were 99 survivors out of the 208 and though the ship did not break up she had sustain too much damaged to be saved. The survivors took the opportunity to offload needed supplies and the chests from the ship. With other nearby islands having fresh water and available game to supplement their provisions, they can survive for some time. On July 10th, 1727 the First mate and ten of men were selected to take a longboat to Batavia to bring help, they were never seen again.
2021 Australia $1 The 1727 Zeewijk
On October 29th, 1727 a decision was made to build a sloop by cannibalizing the Zeewijk of her timbers and utilizing the wood from Mangrove trees of nearby islands. In a marvelous feat of craftsmanship a 60 ft. Sloop was constructed in only four months. A feat that I would even think impress MacGyver. The Sloepie was launched on March 26th, 1728 and arrived a month later at Batavia on April 30th 1728 with 82 survivors of the original 208 with the treasure chests.
In the end, Captain Steyns claimed that the crew mutinied, took possession of the silver and were responsible for the loss of the Zeewijk. The Governor of Batavia became alarmed and took immediate possession of the Sloepie. When the facts came to light, Captain Steyns was charged of falsifying his logs, relieved of his position, fired, and sued with his personal property taken in compensation of losses.
Aye, this Captain was better off going under with the ship than to throw his crew under the bus with a tale of treachery.☠️
The Australian ,Dutch East Indian, Shipwreck Series
A historian has estimated that there may be up to 1600 shipwrecks of all types including modern vessels scattered all around the coastal waters off Australia, more than what the what the Bermuda have reputedly claimed. Who knows what treasures and dangers await beneath the waves.
Added Shipwreck Silver to my Stack for that big stormy day!
The #piratesunday tag is the scurvy scheme of Captain 
Related Posts
2019 Australia $1 The 1628 Batavia Shipwreck.
2020 Australia $1 The 1656 Vergulde Dreack Shipwreck.
2020 Australia $1 The 1712 Zuytdorp Shipwreck.
2021 Australia $1 The 1727 Zeewijk Shipwreck.
References
My own pictures shot with a Samsung SM-A530W
Sources and Readings
Mass; The Zeewijk.
Wiki; The Zeewijk
Western Australian Maritime Museum ships
Alchetron Zeewijk East Indianman picture.
Cameo Raven Brooch from The Black Wardrobe
Silver Raven, made by ‘Silver to Burn’ Burnie
