In 1854 the Dutch ship Bato, rescued not one, not two, but three separate parties of shipwreck survivors whose ships had come to grief in separate encounters with the Great Barrier Reef. In the space of a few weeks, these three ships all ran aground trying to negotiate the dangerous reef strewn waters leading toContinue reading “Bato to the Rescue – 1854”
Tag Archives: Great Barrier Reef
The Loss of the Enchantress: A first-hand account.
On 24 July 1850, the 146-ton brig Enchantress was wrecked while trying to pass through the Great Barrier Reef using the Raine Island passage. Navigating the tricky passages leading to Torres Strait could prove challenging in those days. Between 1791 and 1887 no less than 37 ships came to grief near Raine Island. Many more wereContinue reading “The Loss of the Enchantress: A first-hand account.”
HMCS Protector 1884 – 1924
There lie the remains of an old ship on the Southern Great Barrier Reef which holds a fascinating story spanning almost 140 years. The rusting hull now serves as a breakwater protecting the entrance to the boating channel accessing Heron Island, but its history goes back to 1884. Her Majesties Colonial Ship (HMCS) Protector wasContinue reading “HMCS Protector 1884 – 1924”
View post to subscribe to site newsletter.
The Countess of Minto’s brush with Disaster
In 1851 two men pulled off a sailing feat few thought possible. They had been the only hands on board the Countess of Minto when it vanished during a violent storm stranding the rest of the crew on a remote desert island. Everyone thought the ship had foundered but four weeks later it sailed intoContinue reading “The Countess of Minto’s brush with Disaster”
View post to subscribe to site newsletter.
The Endeavour’s Crappy Repair
As the Endeavour famously made its way up Australia’s east coast in 1770, there was a moment when the success of Cook’s voyage hinged on a pile of animal dung, some wool fibre and a coil of old rope. The incident took place shortly after passing Cape Tribulation, so named by Cook because that wasContinue reading “The Endeavour’s Crappy Repair”
View post to subscribe to site newsletter.
Tales from the Quarterdeck 