We may have already told you that Owhiro Bay is one of our favourite local dive sites, only partly due to the 4 wrecks in this area.
Today marks the 149th anniversary of the sinking of the Wellington & the Cyrus!
A large storm on the 7th of March 1874 pushed both ships on to the rocks.
The Sinking of the Cyrus:
On Friday evening, 6th of March 1874 the wooden barque Cyrus was left Wellington bound for Newcastle, New South Wales to load coal. On clearing Wellington Heads, she ran into a head wind, only reaching Owhiro Bay at noon on the 7th.
By Saturday afternoon the gale had turned into a hurricane and the Cyrus began losing ground. As darkness fell the winds were pushing the Cyrus back and onto the rocks at 11:10pm.
The lifeboat was launched but ended up smashed on the rocks. Two crew members then attempted to swim a rope to a large rock and then onto shore but were swept away to their deaths. The captain was standing on the deck with his 3 passengers, when a huge wave broke over the ship, breaking the ship in half, dislodging the deckhouse and sweeping everyone into the sea. The next wave pushed the deckhouse over the side crushing the passengers – Mrs Wrigglesworth & her 2 sons, Simon (11) & Mark (4).
The Sinking of the Wellington:
At the same time the Cyrus was breaking up, the full-rigged ship Wellington was approaching the scene, unaware of the tragedy unfolding on the rocks and unaware of the dangerous conditions they were running into. Suddenly the lookout spotted a blue flare set off by the Cyrus letting them know they were too close into the shore but by then it was too late, and the vessel crashed onto the rocks. Only a ships length from the Cyrus and only 20 minutes later at 11.30 pm.
As the Wellington was being smashed by the hurricane the crew managed to launch one of the boats. The captain and eight seamen managed to row to seaward and eventually made it back into Wellington Harbour. The ships cook was never seen again. Three crew did make their way to shore with one later dying from ‘exhaustion’ according to the coroner.
Seven people, from the two ships, lost their lives that night.
The wreck of the Cyrus:
Three masted barque of 317 tons, built at Prince Edward Island in 1874.
Length 119 ft, Beam 27 ft, Depth 15 ft.
You have to look closely to see remains of this historic ship but some copper and brass fittings can be found. Gold and silver coins, and jewelry have also been found.
The wreck of the Wellington:
Full-rigged wooden ship of 696 tons, built at Maine, USA, in 1854.
Length 153 ft, Beam 30 ft, Depth 22 ft.
Little remains from this historic ship, but you can see the anchor and the donkey boiler out to the right. Being wooden on this exposed coast her remains would have scattered rapidly.
Dive Site:
The wrecks lie ~60m offshore, 20m off the rocks, on the western side of Owhiro Bay.
In 5-12m of water on a rock and shingle bottom. The wreckage is now encrusted and covered in seaweed, so you need to look carefully to identify it as part of a wreck.
Claire’s guide to finding the wrecks….
Swim to the southern end of the Yung Penn wreck and find the channel to the west that leads into the Fishbowl. Once in the Fishbowl, face the overhanging wall, and swim up and over the crack to the left into the next channel, heading west swim up and over the next reef.
You will be an open area and if you head North, you will find the anchor in ~3m. The anchor is leaning away from you at a 45 degree, with the flukes to the front, and a crossbar at 90 degrees. If you look really closely you will find part of the anchor chain on the sea floor to the right of the anchor.
Now turn 180 degrees and head south out the channel. As you swim look out for pieces of the wreck ~8-10m. These make great homes for crayfish. The Donkey Boiler is at the end of this channel.
If you want to head home, take a left, East, and if you stay in the 8-10m depth you will hit the Gravel Road so turn left again, North, and cruise back to the Yung Penn and the exit.