Through Darkest Seas: The untold story of how Duyfken, Australia's first ship was recreated and sailed into history. . . again

By Graeme A Cocks and Graeme Cocks

A spell was cast over Graeme Cocks when he was summoned to coffee and cinnamon biscuitsat an unassuming house in Fremantle, Western Australia, in 1994. For the next 20 years, hecould not release himself from the grip of a little sailing ship called Duyfken - the Little Dove.Against all odds, a magnificent 16th century Dutch sailing ship was conceived andconstructed in the heart of the old port city of Fremantle. Hailed as the finest 'Age ofDiscovery' replica ship ever built, Duyfken was sailed on two momentous voyages across theworld's great oceans to Indonesia and then to Europe. And along the way, the old narrative ofthe first ship recorded in history to visit Australia was rewritten.Through Darkest Seas tells the previously untold story of the replica, from its genesis in theimagination of a Dutch immigrant, to the challenge of building a remarkable ship usingtraditional skills, and the people who built and sailed her.It is the complete inside account of these achievements which has never been told before.Graeme Cocks was there from the beginning and then he ran the project through its mostglorious and difficult years. The book documents the triumphant highs and tragic lows andthe incredible cast of personalities who shared the Duyfken dream.It is the first time this wonderful story has been told -a story of pain and hardship, of euphoric achievementsand of questioning the very reasons why the ship waseven built to begin with. Come aboard, for a journeyThrough Darkest Seas.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0992507839
• ISBN13: 9780992507831
• Release Date: July 2023
• Publisher: Motoring Past Vintage Publishing
• Length: 548 Pages
• Weight: 1.99 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"