The Gaël met with strong winds and heavy seas, and on 17 August 1909 it was found to be taking on water. There was 1.2 m of water in the hold; the steam pumps were put into action but the water continued to gain. Captain Meteye jettisoned much of the cargo. On Sunday 22 August he decided to abandon ship. He estimated his position then to be at latitude 36° 44’ S and longitude 111° 47’ E, approximately 170 nautical miles south-west of Cape Leeuwin. The boats stayed by the sinking Gaël, but between 7.00 and 8.00 pm on Monday 23 August, after going on board the Gaël and finding 3.4 m of water in the hold, the mate decided to sail for the nearest port. The captain stayed until the barque sank at about 11.30 pm when he too set sail, intending to head for Albany. Three days later the mate’s boat was seen by the staff at the Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse, and the tug Vigilant was sent from Bunbury to meet them. Meanwhile Captain Meteye had reached the coast at Flinders Bay, and at about 3.00 pm on Wednesday 25 August he decided to attempt to go ashore. In landing, the boat was capsized in the surf and everything, including the ship’s papers, was lost.