The Phoenicians have Landed
www.MyPE.co.za:On 24
February 2010 a replica Phoenician vessel, The Phoenicia (appropriately
enough!), sailed into the Port of Port Elizabeth with the assistance of
the local NSRI.
According to the Phoenicia web site:
“Phoenicia is a bold
and ambitious expedition which seeks to rediscover
and document the secrets of ancient Phoenician mariners. It will
re-create one of mankind’s greatest exploratory voyages in the history
of seafaring by bravely attempting to sail the reconstructed
Phoenician/Mediterranean vessel around Africa and ultimately back to
the United Kingdom.”
A large contingent of press went out to meet the Phoenicia and
expedition leader, Philip Beale, in the waters of
Algoa Bay on Tuxedo, courtesy of Barnacle Bay Rides.
Philip, a UK resident is no stranger to the friendly folk at ABYC as
this is his second such trip in an ancient vessel. His first landfall
in Port Elizabeth was aboard the Borobudur
ship on 6 December 2003.
The Borobudur ship was built in the Kangean Islands, some 60 miles
north of Bali by a team practiced in constructing ships using
traditional building techniques.
The large double outrigger ship is a design most likely to have enabled
the Indonesians to colonize Madagascar and trade with other African
shores.
The Borobudur ship is depicted in stone carving relief’s that are found
on the side of the Borobudur Temple that have been dated back
to the 8th Century.
And now the Phoenicia has made landfall at friendly ABYC.
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 reconstruction of a Phoenician / Mediterranean trading vessel,
built at the ancient Phoenician port of Arwad, was started. The
boatbuilder was Abou Hamoud and sons. The Phoenicia then embarked on
their major objective which is a a journey to re-trace the Phoenicians’
route around Africa.
The Phoenicia left East London at 06:30 a.m. on 23 February and entered
Algoa Bay after an approximate 120 nautical mile journey at 01:00 p.m.
on Wednesday 24 February.
From PE the Phoenicia will sail to Mossel Bay and then on to Cape Town
with Philip saying that the rounding of Cape Aghullas will be their
most strenuous leg.
Greeting the
Phoenicia as she sailed into the ABYC Marina Channel were
an array of four ancient cannons all fired in general salute to mark
this remarkable voyage. Two of the cannons belong to Port Elizabeth
based cannon builder, Zane Parker who built the other two cannons
belonging to the Bean’s from Schotia.
The ABYC was blessed to host numerous hard working press people from
such august establishments as Die Burger, The Herald, E-TV, SABC,
PE-Blog and MyPE. Young Dean from The Chartroom pulled out all the
stops at very short notice to feed the hungry journalists on their
return from ‘bobbing on the briny’.
Accommodation on the Phoenicia is spartan to say the least with the
crew having to don headlights to navigate down below to their
quarters. The toilet is a traditional one
which does not provide much privacy as you literally have to hang your
nether regions over the side and ‘do your business’.
Have a look at the Video of The Phoenicia on The Herald site.
See all the Phoenicia Images.
Port Elizabeth Budget Accommodation
Go to:MyPE.co.za
