Page 20 - CYAA Magazine Jan 2018 Issue 41

Classic Yacht Association of Australia

In 1913 he published his book, The Venturesome the 120 years since then, the challenges have
Voyages of Captain Voss, first in Japan, and it has evolved to accomplish more– to go faster, more
been continuously in print to the present day. It often, and in ever smaller vessels. The
is now considered a classic of marine literature. sophistication of ocean sailing has culminated
Tilikum is unusual in that she is preserved in the with access to electronic global positioning
collection of the Maritime Museum of British systems, communication via satellite radio to
Columbia in Victoria BC. The boats of other early receive updates on weather, sea currents and port
yacht voyagers are no longer with us. information.

Voss is widely considered to be among the But the first handful of these adventurous
greatest small craft voyagers of all time. Voss mariners had none of the advantages of their
grew to have complete confidence in the vessel. successors. No sophisticated aids to navigation,
He never seemed to have any doubt about his no instruments for communication or assistance,
own ability or those of Tilikum to achieve his goal. no purpose-designed hulls with comfortable
He seems to have relished the many hardships interiors. Most of all, they had no prototypes on
and enjoyed himself thoroughly. It was only which to base their strategy – their success lay
when faced with a life-threatening illness or entirely on the knowledge they took with them.
losing his Mate overboard that he admitted to
feeling defeated briefly. This vessel links Canada’s and Australia’s
nautical heritage.
By sailing most of the way around the world in
the 38-foot dugout canoe Tilikum, Captain John John MacFarlane, FRGS, is the Curator of The
C. Voss accomplished the unthinkable. In 1901 Nauticapedia Project website (Nauticapedia.ca)
when Voss departed Victoria on his epic three- and the Curator Emeritus of the Maritime
year voyage, he established himself as an early Museum of British Columbia. He is the author of
pioneer of adventure cruising. This was truly the 12 books and has a new book (soon to be
start of challenge-based recreational sailing. In published) on Captain Voss and Tilikum.

The voyages of Tilikum when Captain Voss was in Australia and New Zealand Venturesome Voyages of Captain Voss

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