The+Flying+Dutchman

The legend of the Flying Dutchman is a folklore that states a ship of the same name is unable to dock and is forever forced to wander the seas. The first iteration of the legend is believed to have come into existence around the 17th century. Many variations of the tale exist and as such, no one tale is more correct than another. These variations differ in captains for the ship, destinations to and from, and even the reason why the ship is stuck sailing for the rest of time; However, no matter the differences, the outcome of the crew and ship is the same.

The most widely accepted variation of the legend in South Africa is that the ship is captained by the Dutch sailor Hendrik van de Decken. During a voyage to Holland from the South African city of Jakarta, the Flying Dutchman was sailing around Cape Point when a storm began to approach. As the ship entered stormy conditions, the sails of the ship began to tear into pieces and the rising waves started to flood the deck. Despite great knowledge of the sea and the area of Cape Point, the panicked crew demanded van de Decken to turn back to Jakarata. He refused and proclaimed he would sail around Cape Point until the end of days. Since then, the ship is said to be unable to ever port and is forever stuck sailing around Cape Point.

The legend’s legacy can be seen greatly in South Africa. Despite only being legend, if a ship crew is to “see” the Flying Dutchman, it is a sign of misfortune and possible demise. The is also a funicular named The Flying Dutchman located in Cape Point, South Africa. A funicular is a cable railway that is on a vertical slope and the ascending and descending cable cars equalize each other’s travels. It is known for being the first commercial funicular in all of Africa. One cable car fits approximately forty people per trip and runs from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM SAST (South Africa Standard Time).