SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage
July 1:
“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”
1647: Santíssimo Sacramento, this Portuguese galleon wrecked at Cannon Bay, just west of Schoenmakerskop in the Eastern Cape at the eponymous Sacramento trail. It was sailing with the Nossa Senhora de Atalaia do Pinheiro in rough conditions when they became separated with the Sacaremento having tattered sails and losing its rudder, causing it to wreck at Pinnacle Reef near the shore.
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| The cannon that can be seen at the Sacramento trail pointing towards where the Santíssimo Sacramento (1647) wrecked |
Only about 72 people survived the wrecking event and eventually decided to take the overland journey to Lorenco Marques (modern-day Maputo). These survivors met up with survivors of the Nossa Senhora de Atalaia do Pinheiro (which had met a similar fate a few days later). On the 5th of January 1648, this party finally reached Lorenco Marques, although many perished along the way and it is believed that less than 10 survivors that made it came from the Sacramento wrecking event. The Sacramento was carrying 60 bronze cannon, many destined for India at the time, of which 40 were salvaged in 1977. One of these was dubbed the ‘Miracle Cannon’ because of its pristine condition. Examples of these cannon can be found all around the area, such as at the start of the Sacramento trail and at Bayworld Museum.
One of the Sacramento anchors, still visible after 377 years
1736: Fijenoord, this wooden Dutch brigantine was driven ashore and wrecked in Table Bay in the Western Cape late at night. One life was lost during the wrecking event. The Fijenoord had been used as a salvage vessel for work on the wrecks of the Merestein (1702) and the De Hoop (1734).
1863: Diligence, this South African schooner wrecked after becoming becalmed near Hondeklip Bay in the Northern Cape.
1874: Carl Max, this schooner collided with the Laetitia and sank near the Kowie River in the Eastern Cape.
1927: Garthforce, this three-masted ship struck an iceberg on 10th October 1921 and was brought into Durban harbour in KwaZulu-Natal. There it was hulked in the harbour for a few years until it was towed out to sea and scuttled on this day.
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| The Garthforce (1927), under its previous name of the Celtic Glen, date and location unknown |
1966: Seafarer, this South African cargo liner ran aground on the rocks off Sea Point in Cape Town in the Western Cape and broke its back, becoming a wreck. All lives on board were airlifted off and there was no loss of life.
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| The Seafarer (1966) aground at Three Anchor Bay near the Greenpoint lighthouse in Cape Town in the Western Cape. This image captured one of the three rescue helicopters above the wreck, which were successful in rescuing all that were on board |
1972: Pino, this South African fishing vessel was under tow due to a power failure when it came loose and foundered near Robben Island in the Western Cape. A few days later, wreckage and the bodies of those lost washed up at Green Point.
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| A dramatic image showing the Seafarer (1966) with its broken back |
1993: Frotis, this South African yacht foundered near Cape Agulhas in the Western Cape.
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