Sea and wind reveal ancient shipwreck (video)

High seas and strong winds have removed the sands of time to reveal an ancient shipwreck dating back to the 1890s on the shore close to Bushman’s River Mouth.

The wreck of the Volo, a 500-ton Norwegian barque sailing ship, was discovered by a friend of former Sunshine Coast Tourism director Beverly Young on Sunday. The friend took pictures of the wreckage and sent them to Young, who posted the discovery on Facebook.

With a passion for the region, its history and tourism potential, Young said she had been “beyond excited” when she saw the pictures.

“It is like doing the puzzles in the newspapers. You find that last word and you dance with glee,” she said.

The ship had left the port of Goteborg, Sweden, with a cargo of Baltic

pine timber destined for Lourenco Marques in the former Portuguese East Africa (now Mozambique).

The vessel, which had been sailing on “dead reckoning”, was estimated to be 200 miles (322km) south of land on March 5 1896, the master, Captain Olsen, said at the

time. With strong easterly winds blowing the following day, the Volo struck rocks off the coast and was holed, but it was carried over the reef and successfully beached between Kwaaihoek and the mouth of the Bushman’s River.

The 12 crewmen on board were rescued by locals. Some of the remains of the Volo and her cargo were used to build houses, while other artefacts were salvaged and are still on display in the area.

Sunshine Coast Tourism director Sandy Birch said small bits of the wreckage had always been visible. “It is the first time that it is so visible. Previously only bits of metal were visible. However, thanks to the high seas, we are able to see more.”

Birch said they expected hordes of visitors to flock to the historically significant site.

“As with many artefacts of this nature, the beauty lies in being able to view the wreck in situ.

“The Eastern Cape coastline is dotted with many wrecks,” Birch said, referring to other sites like the boiler wreck of the Osborne and the wreck of the Buffalo tug which can be seen at low tide on the Kowie River.

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http://www.heraldlive.co.za