SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage
April 9:
“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”
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| Eduard Bohlen shipwreck in Namibia |
1674: Bruydegom, this wooden sailing vessel struck a rock between Meeu Island and Schaapen Island in the Langebaan lagoon in the Western Cape. It then drifted into the shallower parts of the lagoon, finally foundering in Kraal Bay. It had a cargo of limestone and shells on board and was waiting for favourable winds to head back to Cape Town.
1847: Israel, this wooden sailing barque (a whaler) had its cables part during a north-westerly gale and it wrecked on Salt River Beach in Table Bay in the Western Cape. It had originally entered Table Bay for fresh water.
1878: Theresina, this wooden sailing vessel’s anchor cable parted during an east-north-easterly gale and it wrecked on Back Beach in Durban in KwaZulu-Natal. The crew were saved using a rocket apparatus as quicksand apparently engulfed the vessel and its cargo rapidly. The cargo included a deluxe bus. Many attempts to get it out of the wreck failed, and the ship and cargo eventually disappeared beneath the sand. However, the masts stuck out and it could still be observed at high tide. In 1913/14 the wreck was temporarily exposed, and attempts were made to get the bus out, but these were also unsuccessful. A wreck was demolished in 1936 on Back Beach and it is suspected that it may have been the Theresina.
1885: Juno, this sailing schooner foundered south of the Orange River off the west coast in the Northern Cape. A fire broke out on board late at night on the 8th and it was abandoned the morning of the 9th. It foundered shortly after. When the crew of 21 attempted to land, their boat capsized in the surf, and only four survived.
1977: Tandeka, this ferro-cement sailing yacht wrecked east of the Dassen Island Lighthouse off the west coast in the Western Cape.
1977: An outboard motor-powered dinghy (name unknown) was lost at sea with two people on board off Hout Bay in the Western Cape.
2002: Sail Fisher, this fishing trawler, whilst returning from catching hake, ran aground on a rock and sank in House Bay on Dassen Island in the Western Cape. The crew of 10 got off safely and divers managed to pump off 400 litres of diesel fuel. The superstructure and debris were also removed so that the wreck would not pose a danger.
