Shipwrecks along the Southern Coast of the Western Cape

From the Breede River mouth through Mossel Bay and Knysna, the Southern Cape coast has claimed ships for centuries. Strong winds, rough seas, reefs and dangerous approaches to river mouths and harbours created hazards for vessels navigating this spectacular but unforgiving coastline. The wrecks left behind tell stories of exploration, trade, fishing and tragedy, adding another fascinating layer to the history of the Southern Cape.

Mossel Bay (including Santos Beach & Cape St Blaize)

• • Soars (1505) – Grounded in a storm at Mossel Bay.
  • Huijs Te Marquette (1734) – Damaged and repaired at Mossel Bay.
  • Kroon Princess van Denmarken (1752) – Smashed ashore at Mossel Bay.
  • Mary (1824) – Grounded on the rocks.
  • Martha (1845) – Stranded in Mossel Bay.
  • Galatea (1846) – Grounded during a gale.
  • Kate (1849) – Driven ashore at Mossel Bay.
  • Mary (1853) – Smashed onto the beach.
  • Nancy (1848) – Wrecked inside the bay.
  • Dennia (1864) – Grounded on the shoreline.
  • Ruby (1866) – Smashed during a storm.
  • Annie Benn (1872) – Driven ashore at Mossel Bay.
  • Erin (1872) – Wrecked near the port.
  • Susan Pardew (1872) – Grounded during a gale.
  • Santos (1874) – Stranded on Santos Beach.
  • Seagull (1886) – Grounded at De Bakke.
  • Alpi (1879) – Smashed onto the rocks.
  • Lady Pryse (1880) – Stranded at Mossel Bay.
  • Wilhelmine (1880) – Grounded on the beach.
  • Asiatic (1884) – Ran aground west of the bay.
  • Mona (1887) – Wrecked in Mossel Bay.
  • Zara (1881) – Driven ashore in a storm.
  • Galera (1892) – Grounded at Mossel Bay.
  • Seagull (1894) – Smashed onto the shore.
  • Durban (1902) – Stranded inside the bay.
  • Poseidon (1902) – Wrecked at Mossel Bay.
  • Baralong (1902)- A floating dock that wrecked in heavy seas…….
  • George T. Hay (1906) – Grounded at Cape St Blaize.
  • Lyndhurst (1911) – Wrecked near the harbour.
  • Kingfisher (1928) – Stranded on Santos Beach.
  • Firefly (1951) – Grounded at Santos Beach.
  • Frota Norte (1992) – Stranded at Mossel Bay.
  • St Michael (2007) – Grounded inside the bay.

 Gourits River Mouth & Danabaai

• • Elephant (1750) – Grounded at Gourits River.
  • La Fortune (1763) – Wrecked in the Gourits area.
  • Melbourne (1862) – Smashed at Gourits River.
  • Thomas Nickerson (1871) – Grounded at Gourits mouth.
  • Cape Hangklip (1974) – Wrecked at Gourits River.
  • Amsterdam (1975) – Stranded at Gourits River.
  • Trio–Triomf (1981) – Wrecked near Gourits mouth.
  • Shin Huei (1983) – Foundered and completely abandoned.
  • Seal (1983) – Foundered at Dana Baaai.
  • Peter S (1986) – Total loss at Gourits mouth.
  • Maranata (1986) – Wrecked at Gourits River.
  • Voortrekker (1993) – Grounded at Gourits mouth.

 Knysna, Noetzie & Sedgefield

• • Emu (1817) – Grounded inside Knysna Lagoon.
  • Luna (1830) – Smashed at Knysna Heads.
  • Musquash (1855) – Wrecked at Knysna Heads.
  • Magnolia (1859) – Grounded at Knysna Heads.
  • Helen (1858) – Smashed at Knysna Heads.
  • Munster Lass (1863) – Wrecked at Knysna Heads.
  • Fairholme (1888) – Grounded at Knysna Heads.
  • Fredheim (1897) – Smashed at Knysna Heads.
  • Louise (1901) – Stranded at Noetzie Beach.
  • Phoenix (1881) – Wrecked at Noetzie Beach.
  • Paquita 91903) Wrecked at Knysna Heads but possibly scuttled
  • Smooth Hound (1951) – Foundered off the Knysna coast.
  • Louise (1942) – Grounded at Noetzie Beach.
  • Nepaul (1850) – Ran aground at Sedgefield.

 Plettenberg Bay & Buffalo Bay

• • São Gonçalo (1630) foundered in a storm off Plettenberg Bay
  • Maria (1788) – Grounded at Plettenberg Bay.
  • Fanny (1810) – Smashed in Plettenberg Bay.
  • Dorothy (1836) – Wrecked at Plettenberg Bay.
  • Active (1845) – Stranded at Plettenberg Bay.
  • St. Helena 1846)- Wrecked at Plettenberg Bay
  • George Henry Harrison (1846) – Grounded at Plettenberg Bay.
  • Swiftsure (1847) – Wrecked at Plettenberg Bay.
  • Diadem (1851) – Grounded at Plettenberg Bay.
  • William Bayley (1857) – Stranded at Plettenberg Bay.
  • Susan Crisp (1857) – Grounded at Plettenberg Bay.
  • Vivid (1860) – Smashed in Plettenberg Bay.
  • Wanderer (1856) – Wrecked at Plettenberg Bay.
  • Magneten (1872) – Stranded at Plettenberg Bay.
  • Eaglet (1874) – Wrecked at Plettenberg Bay.
  • Midge (1874) – Grounded at Plettenberg Bay.
  • Waif (1874) – Smashed in Plettenberg Bay.
  • Louis Alfred (1875) – Grounded at Plettenberg Bay.
  • Sealkote (1877) – Stranded at Plettenberg Bay.
  • Christina (1882) – Grounded at Plettenberg Bay.
  • Hudson (1886) – Wrecked at Plettenberg Bay.
  • Jane (1889) – Smashed in Plettenberg Bay.
  • Seier (1910) – Grounded at Buffalo Bay.
  • St Ebba (1916) – Wrecked at Plettenberg Bay.
  • Athina (1967) – Stranded at Plettenberg Bay.
  • Fong Chung No.11 (1975) – Grounded at Plettenberg Bay.
  • Hustler II (2006) – Wrecked at Plettenberg Bay.
  • Kiani Satu (2013) – Scuttled off Buffels Baai.

 Breede River,Cape Infanta, Stilbaai & Storms River

• Locust (1824) – Grounded at Breede River.
• Skerne (1836) – Grounded at Breede River.
• Sir William Heathcote (1841) – Stranded at Breede River.
• Harriet Lee (1848) – Wrecked at Breede River.
• Belleisle (1849) – Grounded at Breede River.
• Arion / Arfron (1854) – Smashed at Breede River.
• Barry’s 2 (1856) – Grounded at Breede River.
• Osmond (1859) – Stranded at Breede River.
• Port Beaufort (1861) – Wrecked at the Breede River.
• Neptune’s Bride (1869) – Smashed at the Breede River.
• Minnie (1874) – Grounded at the Breede River.
• Umzimkulu (1883) – Stranded at the Breede River.
• Mary (1889) – Smashed at Storms River.
• Debonair (1964) – Grounded at Cape Infanta.
• Mary Ann (1965) – Stranded at Cape Infanta.
• Jacaranda (1967) – Grounded at the Breede River.
• Jasmien (1968) – Smashed at the Breede River.
• Texanita (1972) – Collided and foundered off Stilbaai.
• Bella Gambi (1974) – Wrecked near Cape Infanta.

Discover the story of shipwrecks around the Western Cape in chronological order or search shipwrecks by region; alternatively, explore the alphabetical list