WAVE 1838–1848
Brigantine Undine, c. 1865, AD Edwards Collection, State Library of South Australia, PRG-1373-28-14
Description
Brigantine
Construction
Wood
Size
Length: 75.7 ft (23.07 m) Beam: 20.4 ft (6.22 m) Depth: 10.8 ft (3.29 m) Tonnage: 107
Built
Victoria, Bermuda
Owner
William Younghusband and Co. of Adelaide
Sunk
5 July 1848
Location
Between the boat ramp and a small reef at Cape Riche.
Latitude/Longitude
(-34.594518, 118.751646)
Sinking
The Wave sailed from Adelaide on 5 June 1848 for Shanghai via Cape Riche, Albany and Singapore. While anchored with two anchors down in Cheyne Bay near Cape Riche, the Wave was hit by a heavy gale from the north-east which blew the vessel ashore. The colonial schooner Champion, then at Albany, sailed on 8 July to render assistance to the survivors and to save what cargo it could. It managed to get the Wave off the shore, but the brigantine suddenly filled with water and sank.
Underwater
The wreck lies in 3 m of water on a sand bottom. A large piece of timber with lead sheathing, probably the stem post, or gripe with what is most likely a section of the keel attached, is buried in the sand. Other timbers lie trapped in the reef. A number of ceramic and glass shards are scattered on the beach.
Gallery