The Bruinvis (this means porpoise) was part of the first squadron sent out by the WIC to Africa. The squadron consisted of the ship Dolfijn and the yachts Tonijn and Bruinvis, all from Amsterdam, and a merchant ship (not-WIC) Zwarte Leeuw (captain Philips van Zuylen). Their objectives : reconnaissance, trade and if possible to take enemy ships. In the early years of the Dutch WIC, it was used as a commercial and military tool to further the war efforts of the Netherlands against Spain.

Later, the Bruinvis went across the Atlantic to the Caribbean with the Kater. The ships found the squadron of Hendrick Jacobsz. Lucifer on May 4th 1627 and decided to join it. The Bruinvis took a barque near the Cayman Islands, after which the yacht sailed to New Netherland (present day New York) and back to the Netherlands (De Laet 101-102).

Rijksmuseum

An etch of a different WIC squadron under admiral Piet Hein capturing a Portuguese sugar fleet in All Saint's Bay, Brazil in 1627. Probably made by Johannes Jansonius.

Yard: Amsterdam
WIC chamber: Amsterdam
Tonnage: 60 last
Master: Cornelis Haringh (+ 1623), replaced by Jochem Gijsens
Armament: 8 gotelingen (light iron guns)

It is not clear what happened to the ship.

• De Laet, Kort verhael.