Plett shipwrecks explored
After one of Plettenberg Bay’s many shipwrecks showed itself for the first time in more than 20 years when a large portion of sand washed away during a storm recently, one of South Africa’s leading marine archaeologist headed to town.
The manager of the South African Heritage Resources Agency’s (SAHRA) maritime and underwater cultural heritage unit, John Gribble, was invited by Plett locals to shed more light on the town’s shipwrecks after an “overwhelming” interest in the one that was uncovered just off Central Beach on June 4.
He did so on Saturday, August 22 at the Beacon Island Hotel.
Although Gribble could not pinpoint which shipwreck this particular one is, he did narrow the possibilities down to four candidates.
In a in May 1885 diary entry by harbour master Captain John Sewell, he referred to several wrecks in that particular area, including the Eaglet, the Agnes, the Christina and the Waif.
All of these had roughly similar in specs to the wreck that washed open on the beach recently.
The shipwreck is small, like most of Plett’s wrecks. It was constructed using oak so it was not locally built and is copper-sheathed which suggests it is post 1760,” Gribble said.
He added that looking at reports and photographs, the particular shipwreck seemed to turn up every so often. “It seems it turned up in 1992 and before that in the 1970s and even earlier in the 1880s.”
He added that the Southern Cape Coast was an important area in terms of marine cultural heritage with Plettenberg Bay alone having 25 known wrecks and many other interesting sites like shell middens and some of the oldest previously inhabited caves, like the Nelson Bay Cave.
He said most of the local wrecks were however smaller vessels in the 100 to 200 tonne range and were mostly South African ships used in the timber industry.
Others were either vessels that came into the bay seeking shelter from storms or for repairs. Most of the ships that went down did so in winter months during South-Easterly gales. Because Plett has a lee shore, it made it difficult for ships to get out of the bay during these conditions.”
One of the most noteworthy ships, and possibly the biggest and earliest, that went down in Plettenberg Bay was the massive Portuguese merchant ship, the Soa Goncalo in 1630 on its way home after trading in India.
Gribble said he believed the ship was about 2 000 tonnes fully loaded and that it came into Plett with pumps that had been clogged by the pepper it had been carrying.
It was anchored near Robberg for more than a month while they attempted to get it seaworthy. During this time about 100 crewmen decided to come ashore and set up camp, while the rest remained on board.
A storm, however, hit the coast and the ship sank.
“Depending on which reports you go by, about 130 to 400 on board drowned.”
Gribble said the rest of the crew was possibly the first European footprint in the area after they settled in Plett for about eight months. During this time they constructed vessels and when they were done, headed homeward bound.
The remains of part of their camp were discovered in 1979 when a home was being constructed in the area.
The wreck has however never been found.
Gribble said shipwrecks were important pieces of history as it was a window into the past.
He explained that over and above the cargo, those on board carried everything with them to be self-sufficient for extended periods, giving one a clearer glimpse into how they lived at the time.
Under water these items are also better preserved than on land due to low oxygen levels and in many cases they are buried in sand.
What is found on land are also items people discarded or left behind, but with a ship it is a different story.”