Masterpiece: The historic ship Oosterschelde moored in Rarotonga

One of the world’s most historic ocean-crossing vessels visits the Cook Islands for the first time, carrying more than 20 tourists.

The “Oosterschelde” is a three-masted schooner, originally from the Netherlands, built in 1917, and has been sailing around the world for more than a year, transporting passengers between different countries.

The ship is following the same route that Charles Darwin took more than 200 years ago as the famous British naturalist and father of the theory of evolution traveled around the world, including the Pacific.

Captain Jan-Willen Bos told the Cook Islands News it might be his first time on the island but he was impressed by the hospitality of the locals when the boat arrived at Awatiu wharf on Thursday.

“We are only here for a few days and some of our crew and passengers will disembark here and we will have some new passengers and crew on board to join us on our next voyage to Tonga. In the meantime, we will be here, enjoying the islands,” Captain Boss said.

“First impressions were great; everyone was friendly and I hope to have time to enjoy the island and look forward to it.”

The ship arrived earlier this week but was unable to dock due to extremely high seas.

“We’ve been here for two days but we’re not allowed to dock because the waves are too big, it’s too dangerous, but we’ll be here for five days (approximately).”

The ship carried seven crew members including Captain Boss, and the passengers were from the Netherlands, the United States, Australia, Fiji, Germany and Denmark.

The 50-meter-long vessel served for many years in Europe as a cargo ship and later as a motor vessel. In 1988, the ship was restored to its former glory and, according to Captain Boss, it looks exactly the same now as it did 100 years ago.

The three-captained vessel can carry 24 passengers per voyage and conducts global conservation projects during its voyages.

Between 2023 and 2025, the Oostscheldt plans to re-sail 32 times, the route that Charles Darwin sailed on HMS Beagle, and land at key locations where Darwin made landfall.

During each stop, the ship hosts a group of “Darwin Leaders” to carry out research projects at sites that Charles Darwin visited two centuries ago.

DARWIN200 is looking for enthusiastic individuals to join the trainee crew to sail the magnificent tall ship Oosterschelde on 32 legs of the global voyage from 2023-2025.