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MaSS

stepping stones of maritime history

History

Yacht in the service of the WIC

The Vos was a fast yacht in the service of the Dutch West India Company (WIC) and it is mentioned several times in the 17th-century standard work on the WIC, Historie ofte Iaerlijck Verhael by J. de Laet. This type of yacht was often used for reconnaissance, the deployment of news and for military operations.

A photo of a replica of an old sailing ship at sea.
Wikimedia Commons
The replicaof the yacht the Duyfken at sea.

The Vos, amongst other things, took part in the capture of Bahia in Brazil from the Portugues in May 1624. This was the first big military success of the WIC.

An etching of a naval battle in a bay.
Rijksmuseum
The victories of Piet Hein on the Portuguese fleet in the bay of San Salvador, 1627, by Hessel Gerritsz, 1627.

It also formed part of the fleet of Piet Hein during his second voyage to America in 1626-1627. The it took a Spanish ship near Cuba.

Description

Built: before1623
Owner: WIC chamber Stad en Lande
Crew: 54 sailors, 23 soldiers (1629)
Master: Jan de Braem, after 1628 Claes Hendriksz
Armament: 2 bronze cannon, 10 iron cannon, stone shot

MasterClaes Hendriksz
People on board74
Tonnage140 ton (70 last)

Status

It is not clear what became of the ship

References

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