UPD

1890: Pembrooke Castle, this British iron barquentine wrecked in thick fog somewhere along the west coast in the Northern Cape on its way to Port Nolloth. Very little is known about it. … [Read more...] about 26 December Shipwreck List

1686: Bonaventura, this 20 ton British wooden sailing ketch wrecked in St Lucia Bay in St Lucia in KwaZulu-Natal. After mistaking which bay they were in as well as the timing of the tides, the ketch ran aground. The crew abandoned it until high tide would refloat it, and it did, but it happened too quickly, and it floated up the river where it wrecked. Of the ten that were on board, one drowned. They eventually made it to modern day Durban, which was not a formal settlement yet. Here they met … [Read more...] about 25 December Shipwreck List

1860: Underley, this British sailing barque wrecked somewhere between Cape Agulhas and Quoin Point in the Western Cape. 1975: Rose II, this Panamaian motor-powered transport ship was lost due to an explosion off Port Alfred in the Eastern Cape and its remains now lie at a depth of 70m. MV Rose II was built by Canteri Navali Breda, Marghera for Cia Naviera Gianina S.A., Panama City. … [Read more...] about 24 December Shipwreck List

1852: Kingston, this American sailing barque of 214 tons was wrecked at 03h00 on the southwestern point of Robben Island in Table Bay in the Western Cape. Five lives were lost including the captain's wife and children because of the wrecking. Kingston was under the command of Captain J. Sterling and on a voyage from Baltimore with a cargo of flour. 1875: Nicoline, this German three-masted sailing schooner wrecked in a south-easterly gale near Jetty Street in Gqeberha/Port Elizabeth in the … [Read more...] about 23 December Shipwreck List

1861: Alice Smith, this 60 ton sailing schooner, built in 1855 at Newhaven was wrecked at Port St Johns in the Eastern Cape. She was sheathed with zinc and owned by J.O. Smith of Algoa Bay. She was wrecked whilst exiting the river after the wind failed. No lives were lost. 1988: Gelderland, this motor-powered seaward defence boat was scuttled by the SAS Fleur via demolition trials just off Duiker Point, near Maori Bay, about 4km west of Hout Bay in the Western Cape. It lies just west of the … [Read more...] about 21 December Shipwreck List

1870: Flower of the Arun, this wooden sailing brigantine wrecked in a south-easterly gale off the East London coastline in the Eastern Cape. 1986: Chanson de la Mer, this fibreglass sailing yacht wrecked on the west side of Robben Island in Table Bay in the Western Cape. As reported the reason for the grounding was a navigational error. CHANSON DE LA MER was a South African fiber glass hulled sailing yacht - Baltic 42 type. The owner and his son, Richard. Johan van Rooyen, Charlie Copping, … [Read more...] about 20 December Shipwreck List

1975: F H Hughes, this South African whaler was scuttled 16km offshore from Durban in KwaZulu-Natal by the SA Navy. The F H Hughes operated as a weather ship, during the period September 1969 to March 1974. The ship was usually stationed off Cape Point at 40° S; 10° E. It was first fitted with a Boersma recorder which was later replaced by a NIO recorder. 1979: Da Gama, this motor-powered South African fishing vessel foundered off Cape Columbine off the West Coast in the Western Cape. Very … [Read more...] about 19 December Shipwreck List

1863: Evelyn, this wooden sailing schooner wrecked in a north-westerly wind on Sunbeam Rock at Danger Point in the Western Cape. Four lives were lost because of the wrecking. 1898: Resolute, this steam-powered coaster wrecked near Paternoster on the west coast in the Western Cape. All ten that were on board drowned. 1903: The Norwegian wooden hulled 534 ton barque Sappho, on a voyage from Biloxi to Port Natal, was abandoned and eventually sank SW of Cape Town. Sappho was bulit by Grimstad … [Read more...] about 18 December Shipwreck List

1845: Suffren, this wooden sailing French barque of 293 tons commanded by Captain Weisbrood was parted from its cables during a north-easterly gale in the outer anchorage of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal and wrecked. Suffren had voyaged from Reunion in ballast to load a cargo of cattle, No lives were lost. 1902: Hiddeskel, this 4-masted sailing barque struck a reef between Hout Bay and Camps Bay in the Western Cape and after manning the pumps for two hours, had to be abandoned before reaching Green … [Read more...] about 17 December Shipwreck List

1809: Reliance, this American wooden sailing vessel was broken up in Table Bay in the Western Cape. Very little is known about it. 1814: William Pitt, this British East Indiaman wrecked somewhere between Algoa Bay and St Francis Bay in the Eastern Cape. It was only known to have wrecked from items washing ashore with no survivors having been reported. The Stag searched for evidence of its wrecking and found further proof, such as a medicine chest lid with the name ‘William Pitt’ on it. Pieces … [Read more...] about 16 December Shipwreck List

1880: John N Gamewell, this 3-masted sailing schooner caught alight and burned down to the waterline and then drifted ashore at Gqeberha/Port Elizabeth in Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape. This American brigantine of 534 tons, registered in New York and under the command of Capt. G.B. Weaver was at anchor in the bight of the bay, with a general cargo, including hides, cottons and oils. Bound from Bombay for London, it seems that one of the cabin lights exploded. Although the life boat put out to … [Read more...] about 15 December Shipwreck List

1932: Newton, this steam-powered South African fishing vessel was scuttled off the coast of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal. 1942: Sawahloento, this Dutch steam-powered merchant ship built in 1921 and of 3085 tons, was torpedoed and sunk by U-177 about 250km east of Port Shepstone in KwaZulu-Natal. At 16:36, U-177 fired a torpedo that struck the starboard side of the ship, near the engine room, sinking it within seven minutes. Only one lifeboat managed to be launched with ten people in it. They … [Read more...] about 14 December Shipwreck List

1867: Hydra, this German sailing brig of 178 tons commanded by Captain Spiering was wrecked in a south-westerly gale after striking the bar in Durban in KwaZulu-Natal. It reportedly went to pieces resulting in the loss of seven lives with only two survivors, who had managed to lash themselves to planks and were washed ashore. Hydra was on a voyage in ballast from Algoa Bay. … [Read more...] about 13 December Shipwreck List

1819: Adolphus, this wooden sailing brig wrecked as a result of incorrect signaling from the shore, whilst crossing the bar at the Knysna Heads in the Western Cape. 1835: Circe, this wooden sailing vessel left Algoa Bay for Port Natal on this day, never to be seen or heard from again. 1874: Florie, this 373 ton wooden sailing barque wrecked in a south-westerly gale near the Blind River in East London in the Eastern Cape with the loss of one life. Florie was built in 1862 by Parkes, … [Read more...] about 12 December Shipwreck List