The Rip had various owners, including the Port Phillip Sea Pilots, Melbourne. In 1901 W Oxley of Melbourne purchased the Rip for fishing in Western Australian waters. In 1904 he sold it to Alex Armstrong of Albany for £350. Armstrong was in partnership with George Waters, and they intended to use the Rip as a lighter.
RIP 1860–1910
The America Schooner Yacht…, PY8703
Description
Schooner, similar to the famous racing yacht America
Construction
Wood
Size
Length: 94.0 ft (28.65 m) Beam: 23.2 ft (7.07 m) Depth: 11.4 ft (3.48 m) Tonnage: 91.84
Built
St John, New Brunwick, Canada
Owner
Various owners
Sunk
1 April 1910
Location
Frenchman Bay, about 100 m south-east of the wreck of the Elvie, closer to the watering place shown on chart BA 2619 and now commonly referred to as Vancouver Springs.
Latitude/Longitude
(-35.091683, 117.943833)
Sinking
The Rip was leaking badly because of worm damage in the keel and garboard strakes. It was careened in Frenchman Bay so that the damage could be assessed and was found to be so severe that the vessel was abandoned. The Rip subsequently dragged ashore, so the owners attempted to burn it, but only the seaward side burned. The remains lay broadside on to the beach, canted towards the sea at a steep angle and rapidly began to go to pieces.
Underwater
The Rip lies in the surf zone in less than two metres of water at the north-western end of Whalers Beach. The overall length of the site is 15.62 m. There are a number of pieces of timber, including the keel and some frames. Pieces of charred timber lie on the sand nearby.
Gallery
