Morning Reef

Five Bells : All’s Well : It’s 1629, the fourth of June :
Batavia, sea-tossed Eastward, flees the moody setting Moon;
Treasure-laden, on her maiden voyage—Proudest craft afloat ! –
Fifty guns—Three hundred star-crossed souls—And one heroic boat.
Like Cupid’s Bows the silver bow-waves purling at her prow :
The Kiss of Circe, “La Belle Dame Sans Merci” on her brow;
But, “Mutiny !” she hisses – and the Skipper nods, and scowls –
Eyes spiteful, scheming, narrowed, gleaming, watchful as an owl’s.
But his eyes stare, wide with disbelief—His hand starts for the bell –
“Say, Helmsman, what’s yon misty wraith? – I’ Faith, I cannot tell !”
“’Tis but Moon upon the water, Sire . . . ” – Too late, the Look-Out’s yell : –
“ABROLHOS ! – LOOK OUT ! – ROCKS AHEAD !” – ( O Helmsman! Steer us well ! )

The loss on her maiden voyage of the Dutch treasure ship Batavia on the reefs off the Houtmans
Abrolhos in 1629, and the subsequent events amongst the survivors, make a story beside which the Bounty mutiny is a petty and anaemic affair, and the Titanic sinking a weekend mishap. Carefully documented at the time, this is a tale of mutiny and betrayal, murder and courage, vast riches and wild ideas, . . . But I’m not going to start telling the story now. What I mean to say is that in Holland they have built a new Batavia, all using ancient techniques – she is unique amongst the world’s tall ships in this regard ! – and the huge news is that She’s Coming To Australia ! Now, as I write this, she must be nearly here. Her mast is too tall for Sydney Harbour Bridge so they have to do a ship in a bottle trick with her so she can swan around the Bay. I’m going to see her or die trying.
I have been held in thrall by the saga and by thoughts of the movie that must one day be made about it. I will update this page as time and info come to hand. Watch this space !
News— Early December 1999— Batavia Under Sail in Sydney Harbour !
More News : An OPERA based on the story is to be performed at the Festival of Melbourne in 2001 ! Some songs from it are in the December Adelaide Review.