The Cape of Good Hope is known to many travel lovers for its beautiful nature, warm climate and Russian-speaking guides who will show and tell all the features of this place.
Not everyone knows, although guides often remember this, but it was here that the famous legend of the Flying Dutchman was born. Thanks to the films, this legend is indirectly known to many, but its essence was never revealed, as well as the place where it appeared. Many are also surprised to hear her, they say, but what about Captain Davy Jones? Isn't it the Island of the Cross? No, it was the Cape of Good Hope, and not Captain Jones, although the name of the historical figure is controversial.
A pinch of history
The name of the cape also had an interesting history. It was discovered by Bartolomeu Dias, a Portuguese sailor, who called it the Capes of Storms because the cape was often exposed to severe storms. As can be seen from history, it did not immediately become the Cape of Good Hope; it was renamed by King João II, when his ships plowed the vastness of its waters. The king's hope was justified, a sea route to India was opened for Portugal, and the cape remained "Good Hope" forever.
Historical legends
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The sailing ship "Flying Dutchman" is known in history, but the name of its captain is controversial. In one of the myths, the captain was the Dutchman Philip Van der Decken (and according to another version of the story Van Straaten), in 1700, his ship sailed from the East Indies, carrying a married couple on board. He desired the unfortunate lady, the captain got rid of her husband, and called her in marriage, but the girl could not imagine herself in the hands of the murderer of her lover, so she jumped overboard.
While trying to go around the cape, the ship got into a strong storm, but despite the plea of the crew to wait it out in the nearest bay, the angry captain decided on a desperate act. Defying all the gods, he led the ship through the storm, dooming himself and the entire crew to certain death. Swearing that not a soul would go ashore, he signed his own sentence. Now the ship is forced to wander, time after time trying to go around the cape. However, according to one of the versions, the captain can still remove the curse, which he himself called. Once every 10 years, he is supposed to go ashore and find a wife who will voluntarily agree to marry the damned captain. Another version says that the "Flying Dutchman" and everyone on board can be released by some magic word, but who knows or keeps - the unknown secret of the seven seas.
Another version of the legend
The Dutch captain vowed that he would sell his soul if he passed the cape unharmed. He made the mistake of not pointing out that he only needed to do it once, and the Devil played a cruel joke on him. Now the captain and his crew are going around the cape again and again unharmed.
In a severe storm, the ship could not bypass the Cape of Good Hope (in another version, it was Cape Horn). The team asked to turn back, but Van Straaten said that he would swim until he reached the goal. In response to angry speeches, a voice burst out from the sky: "So be it - swim even until the second coming."
In those days, terrible diseases raged, and one of them overtook the "Flying Dutchman", not a single port agreed to accept such a ship, fearing infection. The Dutchman sailed from port to port for a long time, while his crew members were dying. Without finding help, the ship continues to wander, winding up terror and bringing misfortune to other ships.
There are incredibly many versions. Yet another one says that the Dutchman met the ghost ship Kenara, but having overcome it, he took on the curse of the pirate ship. According to other stories, the captain was in such a hurry to go home that he did not help the sinking ship encountered at sea, for which he was cursed according to all maritime laws.
Which of the many stories is true is unknown. It is said that to this day you can find a ghost ship in the distance, near the Cape of Good Hope.