« Alternative Potd | Main | St George for England »
April 22, 2004
Expedition to find the Waratah
This is one I could not pass up posting on. The Waratah dissappeared off the coast where I grew up (much later!) in 1909. It is thought that she was the victim of a notorious wave formation which occurs off this coast when a strong South Westerly wind blows against the prevailing Aghulas Current which flows North East to South West - and massive waves are piled up along the 100 fathom line as the two forces clash.
The Waratah was an almost new ship (she was only on her second voyage to the UK from New Zealand) when she vanished off the Bashee River mouth. Observers from the shore saw a large liner sail into a squall of rain in the rising gale and she never reappeared. For years there has been speculation as to what happened, since no wreckage that could be identified as coming from her was ever found. Now she is to be searched for in an expedition funded by Clive Custler, the author of several books on maritime disasters. The news item can be found here on the sma.au news site.
Another author, Jeffrey Jenkins, has also written a book in which the Waratah features as a major player - it is called "Scend of the sea" and ties together the Waratah, a SAA Viscount passenger plane that went missing in this area as well, and a SAAF Buccaneer bomber that also dissappeared in the same area.
The monster waves that arise in the South Westerley gales still cause damage and now all VLCC, ULCC, and Bulk Carriers using the Cape sea route keep well out to sea in these conditions. More than one has been severely damaged by the freak seas that the locals call "Cape Milestones" - monster waves caused when the seas pile up as they hit the continental shelf close in. Having "fallen off" one of these in an offshore lifeboat some years ago - all I can say is - they are best avoided, even in small craft!
I hope the Waratah is finally found. At least then surviving relatives of her crew and passengers will now be able to know where their relatives lie - and one of the great mysteries of the 20th Century will have been laid to rest.
Posted by The Gray Monk at April 22, 2004 05:06 AM