Page 81 - Dutch Asiatic Shipping Volume 1

call en route to the Cape, had as much influence on the duration of the voyage as did the weather conditions and the various seasons. Until about 1653 the Cape was not used regularly as a port of supply, in spite of the instructions to this effect of 1616. After that it became standard practice with nearly all outward bound ships. In table 6 the average duration of voyage is shown of ships whose full dates of departure and arrival at the Cape are known. The route via the Channel has a length of 8,000 to 8,500 nautical miles.
The duration of the voyage shows great fluctuations, it being longest in the decades 1690-1709. No doubt a more frequent use of the 'backway' was induced by the Nine Years War (1688-1697) and the War of the Spanish Succession (1702-1713). The route was completed faster during the eighteenth century than during the preceding one. This shor­ tening of the voyage is particularly striking round about 1750; this will be considered again in chapter 6. Table 7 shows that there was indeed a great difference according to the season of departure. January to end of April - in particular March -, and September proved most favourable for a speedy voyage to the Cape. October, November and Decem­ ber were plainly less favourable. Departures from May to August meant the longest voyages for the Company, but for this period too voyages were considerably shortened around the middle of the eighteenth century.
Table7:ΛveragedurationofvoyageNetherlands-TheCapebymonthofdeparture(indays)
I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII
1602-24 147 132 1625-49 132 148 1650-74 125 122 1675-99 156 129 1700-24 132 128 1725-49 131 132 1750-74 114 117 1775-94 114 102
83 134 213 113 132 163 120 132 137 132 157 142 110 137 144 133 128 154 114 117 138 123 114 125
124 149 116 157 125 138 144 136 166 147 140 136 132 158 167 149 156 165 135 148 153 141 237 116 156 163 145 164 157 146 132 133 135 122 149 139 134 119 125 119 119 139 133 129 127 130 135 127
The voyage to the Cape was the longest lap in distance as well as
for the two centuries is 136 days. A t an average daily speed of a good sixty miles an East Indiaman would reach the Cape in 4lh months.
The Cape as port of call
As early as 1616 it was laid down that Table Bay alone was to be used as port of call on the way to Asia. This regulation was not compliedwith. Around 1650 the Heren Zeventien began to be concerned about the availability of fresh drinking water, fruit, vegetables and meat to their growing fleets. Small islands were no longer considered adequate. The area round Table Bay offered greater scope. A report from survivors of the returning HAAR­ LEM (5346), which was wrecked in this bay in 1647, gave convincing evidence of this. Consequently in 1652 the Company started a settlement there, which was intended as a port of provision for ships on outward and return journeys. Soon it was used by practically every ship, and the Cape became a place of refreshment, much appreciated by all those aboard ship.2 2
22 Godee Molsbergen, De stichter, 49-73.
in time. The average