The Britannia Shipwreck - Part One: Is the Britannia Blinder named appropriately?
(summarized from the authentic narrative of a passenger)
On the 17th of October 1826, the merchant ship Britannia, a 460 ton East Indiaman found itself about six miles from Table Bay, probably just north of Robben Island. She was carrying 16 passengers and a cargo of copper, stone china, pickled fish, cloth, preserves, ale, cognac and Madeira wine and was sailing from England, via Madeira, to Cape Town, the Isle of France (Mauritius) and Bombay. Instead of reaching Table Bay on this day, she was forced back (northwards) by a strong south westerly wind. Upon reaching Saldanha Bay on the 20th of October, Captain William Bourchier made the interesting decision to rather seek safe anchorage in St Helena Bay until the return of the more favourable south easterly trade winds. It was here, about four miles west of Saldanha Bay, that a crew member fell overboard. The chief officer, Mr. Wisset, and four crew men, gallantly attempted to save him but sadly their little boat was swamped by waves and they all drowned. The Britannia safely reached St Helena Bay that evening.
On the 22nd of October, at first daylight and in better weather, the ship weighed anchor in St Helena Bay and left for Table Bay and 'passed all the points where there was the least appearance of danger, or were laid down in Horsburgh's charts'. However, just after nine o'clock, the ship struck an uncharted blinder (submerged reef) and developed a leak. According to the narrative, this happened 12 miles from shore (shore probably implying the harbour in St Helena Bay). This assumption places the ship on what is today aptly (or not?) called Britannia Blinder. The shallowest pinnacle of this reef is about six metres deep, but spring low-tide combined with an appreciable swell almost exposes the reef. The narrative does mention that 'there was a good deal of swell'. This very spot, which is the size of a couple of rugby fields, is a favourite amongst kreef fishermen and many are aware of its dangers due to the very obvious and sudden rise in the swell as it passes over the shallow area. In fact, it breaks badly over this rock in moderate to heavy seas. It is therefore quite strange that the lookout on the Britannia did not spot the point of danger. It is also mind-blowing how much bad luck one needs to fortuitously pass right over this spot, probably during spring low-tide, and to time it just when there is a wave trough passing right over the pinnacle.
The narrative speaks highly of Captain Bourchier who put the Britannia about and made for a sandy beach which was at the time called St Martin's Bay/who steered the Britannia to a sandy beach which was at the time called St Martin’s Bay. Here she was deliberately grounded thus saving the lives of all the remaining crew and passengers. This bay was later renamed Britannia Bay. The narrative also severely criticizes the Government for their poor navigational maps of this part of the coast. It also strangely mentions the rock on which the Britannia struck 'being nearly 12 miles S.S.W. by compass from Cape St. Martin'. This puts her west of Cape Columbine which is about 24 nautical miles from the St Helena Bay anchorage. The ship could well have reached this point in the five hours since dawn, and if she was indeed damaged here then the current Britannia Blinder was not named appropriately. Such are the stories of shipwrecks.... more questions than answers!
More next time on the agony of sailing all the way back in a sinking ship, the landing, the survival, the cargo, the salvage and what you might still find on the beach today...
Extract from a Cape of Good Hope map published in 1840. Drawn by John Arrowsmith. Interesting to note is that Stompneus Point/Shelley Point is clearly depicted as Pt. St. Martin. This would explain the distance to point of impact but not the S.S.W direction quoted in the narrative. Even more interesting is the incorrect position of Britannia rocks This is in fact where the North Blinder is situated. No reef is shown where the Britannia Blinder actually is implying its true position remained uncharted for considerable time after the accident. Cape Columbine is shown as Cape Castle.