South Africa: Eleanor, Wild Flower, Calcutta, Gnu, Winton, Romelia & Shin Huei shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

July 28:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1839: Eleanor, this wooden-hulled sailing schooner wrecked on the Annabella bank in Durban in KwaZulu-Natal.

1881: Wild Flower, this sailing schooner was condemned on the 6th of July and then beached on this day in Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape. 

1881: Calcutta, this sailing schooner wrecked when it ran ashore near Twine Point in the Eastern Cape and was battered to pieces by the waves. Thirteen lives were lost, with the reports on the number of survivors contradicting one another claiming it to be between three and seven people.

1914: Gnu, this steam-powered tug was driven ashore at Simon’s Town in the Western Cape during a gale on this day. However, three years later, in 1917, it was refloated and after being repaired in Kalk Bay, it sank during its first sea trials. The exact date of this second sinking event is currently unknown.

1934: Winton, this steel-hulled, motor-powered cargo ship wrecked in strong north-westerly winds north of the Milnerton Lighthouse in Table Bay in the Western Cape. Its remains and that of the Hermes are visible in the surf and serve as a landmark for people walking on the beach. The NSRI often receive reports that a whale has beached in that location as the resultant sea-spray from the waves battering the wrecks make it look like a whale.

Winton (1934) (further from the shore) and the Hermes (1901) (closer to shore) on a calm, almost tropical looking day

1977: Romelia, this oil tanker wrecked after its tow cable broke, and it ran aground on Sunset Rocks in Llandudno in the Western Cape. The Kiyo Maru 2 was towing it along with the Antipolis to be scrapped in Asia when a north westerly gale caused the tow cable of the Antipolis to be snagged and the Romelia’s to break. The Antipolis wrecked the next day at Oudekraal. The Romelia was visible above the waterline until 1996, when it finally disappeared beneath the waves. Today, it makes for a cold but rewarding dive, lying at its shallowest around 12 m and deepest 25 m.

The Romelia (1977) before it disappeared beneath the waves, being battered by the surf on the rocks

1983: Shin Huei, this Taiwanese fishing vessel lost its rudder and was abandoned, presuming to have foundered at sea, about 130 km south-east of Mossel Bay in the Western Cape.

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South Africa: Top 6 Cape Town beaches

6 Top “secret” beaches you should visit in Cape Town

If you go to the beach for the sole purpose of relaxing, but you’re not too fond of the crowdedness getting in the way of you fully winding down - this list of secluded beaches in Cape Town is for you. With warmer temperatures ahead of us, it’s a good time to visit some of Cape Town’s less crowded beaches. Here’s our top picks of lesser-trodden shores.

Safety tip: Don’t travel to secluded beaches alone - bring a friend or two.

Bakoven (Beta Beach and Bali Beach)

Located between Camps Bay and Llandudno, Bakoven has a series of bays and pools that can’t accommodate large crowds due to their small size. Bakoven has two idyllic spots worth checking out - Beta Beach and Bali Beach. Bakoven is like your own paradise for the day where you can just enjoy the peace and quiet with stunning views of Camps Bay, Lion’s Head and the Twelve Apostles - not forgetting the sunset. The beaches offer a chance for sunbathing, boulder-hopping and picnicking.

Saunders Rock Beach

While most small beaches and rock pools along Sea Point Promenade are quite exposed and busy, Saunders Rock Beach is a slightly off the crowd’s radar. This beach is the perfect example of a city beach as it is located close to restaurants and easily accessible. If you want to cool down, there is a gorge between the rocks for safe dips.

Diaz Beach

This beach is a bit famous but still remains undisturbed, as only a few daily visitors know about it. Diaz Beach is one of Cape Town’s beautiful beaches that make for an unforgettable experience. Situated at the tip of Cape Point, Diaz Beach is surrounded by high cliffs, crashing waves, and sheer beauty. Since swimming is prohibited due to strong rip currents, rather just wet your feet.

Milnerton Beach

Milnerton Beach is a long stretch of clean shores with fantastic views of Table Mountain. This beach is open to dog walking, beach games (volleyball, frisbee, etc), sunbathing, kite-surfing, and watching ships passing by.

Sunset Beach

Sunset Beach is the secret alternative to Melkbos and Blouberg’s Big Bay and the perfect spot to get a view of Table Mountain and sunset. Not only that, but its also good for swimming, picnicking and sunbathing.

Scarborough Beach

One could say what makes this beach clear of crowds is the stretchy drive from the city. If you enjoy a mini road trip, then you’ll enjoy making your way to Scarborough Beach located just outside of the Cape Point Nature Reserve. Scarborough Beach offers rock pools for exploring, a spot for windsurfing and kite-flying, and ample space to play. As this beach is prone to rip currents, caution should be taken when going for a dip.

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South Africa: Francesca, Hermes, Piratiny, Horizon, Barcelona & Flee shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

May 12:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1882: Francesca, this wooden Italian sailing barque sprang a leak and was beached at Orient Beach in East London in the Eastern Cape and it is believed to have become a wreck.

1901: Hermes, this British steam-powered passenger/cargo ship dragged its anchors and was driven ashore on Milnerton Beach in Table Bay in the Western Cape, where it became a wreck.

The Hermes (1901) shortly after it wrecked, before being reduced by the power of the surf

It had travelled from Argentina with a cargo of general stores and some livestock. Two female passengers drowned when a lifeboat overturned. The wreck now lies near the wreck of the Winton (1934) and it can still be seen from the shore and in aerial photographs.

The boiler of the Hermes (1901) that sticks out the most, November 2021. One can see inside of it and that it is heavily encrusted with marine life.

The NSRI regularly receives reports of a distressed whale at the wreck location as the spray created by its boiler looks like the blow from a whale.

A stunning aerial image of the Hermes (1901) captured in 2015

1943: Piratiny, this steel Brazilian steam-powered cargo ship was on its final voyage from Rio de Janeiro to Table Bay when it wrecked near Hondeklip Bay in the Northern Cape because of a storm.

The Piratiny (1943) slowly rusting away

Rumours at the time claimed that it was lost because of being torpedoed by the Germans. Its remains are still visible on the shore, forming part of the Diamond Coast Shipwreck 4x4 trail.

1967: Horizon, this motor-powered Dutch freighter ran aground and wrecked at full speed when the second mate fell asleep at the helm, at the Mngazi River mouth near Port St. Johns in the Eastern Cape.

The Horizon (1967) being battered by waves shortly after having run aground

1973: Barcelona, this South African fishing vessel wrecked in heavy fog near Cape St. Francis in the Eastern Cape.  

2017: Flee, this South African yacht wrecked at 16-mile beach, north of Yzerfontein off the west coast in the Western Cape.

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South Africa: Nossa Senhora dos Milagros, Penelope, Apollo & Walsingham shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

Unknown shipwreck, Skeleton Coast, Namibia

April 16:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1686: Nossa Senhora dos Milagros, this Portuguese East Indiaman wrecked near Cape Agulhas in the Western Cape at night. The exact number of people that were on board is unknown, but it is believed that there were approximately 131 survivors that made it back to Cape Town. It is also believed that less than 10 people drowned during the wrecking, but several people died from exhaustion on the journey overland to Cape Town. The Portuguese realised the state of the loss and sold the wreck and its contents at a loss to the VOC. One person died during the salvage operations that ensued. It is because of the salvage of this wreck that Olof Bergh was imprisoned for three and a half years on Robben Island and thereafter sent to Ceylon in ‘semi-exile’ as he pleaded guilty to having sold off valuable cargo from the wreck for personal gain when it belonged to the VOC.

1809: Penelope, this wooden sailing schooner was caught smuggling, and the HMS Olympia forced it into Table Bay in the Western Cape, where it wrecked on Milnerton Beach.

1823: Apollo, this wooden sailing ship wrecked late at night, below the Mouille Point Battery in Table Bay in the Western Cape. A signal gun was fired when it ran aground which killed one man. Several boats were sent to render assistance and after discharging the cargo attempts were made to refloat it. At 4pm it was decided that the vessel would be lost, so the masts were cut, and the vessel was left to become a wreck.

1829: Walsingham, this wooden sailing barque wrecked near the Military Hospital on Woodstock Beach in Table Bay in the Western Cape. Some reports list the wrecking in 1828 and instead have the wrecking occurring in June.

2002: An Airquarius Aviation Hawker Siddeley HS-748 2B (registration no. SZ-OLE), suffered a complete hydraulic failure in the air and whilst landing at the Pilanesberg Airport, it veered off the runway and into ditch causing substantial damage to the airplane. The 47 occupants were however uninjured.

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South Africa: The Haerlem, Primmo Janetto, Susan, Blackaller, Jim Crow, Frances Bain, Wasp, Waif, Jan van Riebeeck shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

March 25:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1647: The Haerlem (Haarlem), this Dutch East Indiaman wrecked on Milnerton Beach in Table Bay in the Western Cape. It was on a homeward bound journey with two other VOC vessels, the Olifant and the Schiedam, when sight of them was lost before entering Table Bay. After seeing an unfamiliar ship in its normal anchoring spot, the captain sent men by boat to investigate, but before they could return, a sudden south-easterly gale resulted in the Haerlem running aground on Milnerton beach. The Olifant’s Captain broke his arms and legs after falling violently in a boat whilst coming to inspect and assist the stranded Haerlem. One boat of the Haerlem also capsized in trying to reach the shore with one person drowning.

Fair sheet of Table Bay, dating to 1663, with the approximate position of the Haarlem wreck marked

Although its wrecking might seem like a normal wrecking for the South African coastline, because of all the cargo that was bound for Europe, not all of it could be transported back with the remaining fleet, so 62 of the crew stayed behind and setup camp to safeguard the cargo until another vessel could come and fetch them with the cargo. A fortified camp was built, and the ship’s junior merchant’s journal provided a day-to-day account of what occurred over the year and half that they made the Cape their home. The crew and cargo were picked up in August 1648, and with the descriptions of the journal indicating good resources and friendly people at the Cape, the notion was laid forward to construct a permanent refreshment station. The notion was passed and in 1651 Jan Van Riebeeck travelled to the Cape to establish it as a Dutch colony. This settlement eventually grew to be the modern-day city of Cape Town. Since 1995 several surveys have been undertaken in attempts to locate the wreck and the survivor camp, however it has not yet been located and may well have been eroded by time or covered by shifting sand dunes. Although, there has recently been a project by the African Institute for Marine & Underwater Research, Exploration & Education (AIMURE) that has made strides in trying to locate the wreck site under a SAHRA permit. 

1839: Primmo Janetto, this wooden sailing brig/brigantine was detained by HMS Columbine and broken up, in either False Bay or Table Bay. It was caught transporting enslaved people and was therefore detained. 

1846: A strong south-easterly gale claimed three ships around Port Elizabeth in Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape.

• Susan, a British wooden sailing barque. One man drowned during the wrecking. 

• Blackaller/Blankaller, a wooden sailing snow wrecked.  

• Jim Crow, a British wooden sailing schooner, which wrecked whilst its cargo was being unloaded. 

1849: Frances Bain, this wooden sailing barque wrecked in a south-easterly gale near Port Elizabeth in Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape.

1867: Wasp, this sailing schooner capsized in a south-easterly gale in rough waters at the breakwater in Table Bay in the Western Cape. Some reports suggest that all seven on board were lost. 

1874: Waif, this sailing brigantine wrecked in Plettenberg Bay in the Western Cape after her cargo caught fire.

1980: Jan van Riebeeck, this steam-powered naval destroyer was scuttled south of Cape Point off the Cape Peninsula in the Western Cape. It was scuttled as part of the first live missile firing exercise in South African waters using a South African Navy warship.

The scuttling of the SAS Jan Van Riebeeck (1980)

The first Durban built strike craft, SAS Jim Fouche, attempted to scuttle the SAS Jan van Riebeeck with a Skerpioen missile but the destroyer only sunk later after sustained gun fire.

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