concept of freedom. He was a philosopher, as well as a sailor, some even calling him a mystic. He directed two documentaries: Sea of Heartbreak (1997) and 1000 days of Loneliness (2005). He worked in close association with the Dutch media. De Velde departed on his 6th circumnavigation in September 2007 with the trimaran Juniper, without planning to return to the Netherlands. He called this "Never Ending Voyage" a pilgrim's route to the edges of this world. The 52 ft trimaran was designed by Chris White. However, in March 2011, while sailing near Vancouver Island in Canada, he suffered an accident with the vessel, in which the propeller shaft broke from its axis, elbowing up and damaging the aft, a fibreglass predicament. Weeks of repairs ensued, and Henk de Velde counted on many helpful volunteer hands to have the problem fixed up. Perhaps resigning to the fact that the Juniper's speed was deemed never to match the Campina's resilience and livelihood, he then reported that his plans had changed, and that he would eventually return to the Netherlands, noting in an interview soon after, that the time had come "to slow down", and that he was homesick. He returned to the Netherlands in September 2011. De Velde died of colon cancer on 3 November 2022, at the age of 73. References External links Henk de Velde's "Never Ending Voyage" - official website 1949 births 2022 deaths Deaths from colorectal cancer People from Kampen, Overijssel Dutch sailors Single-handed circumnavigating sailors