The remains of an unknown 30m wreck were found off Cave Point during a fisheries research dive in November 2011.

Mystery Wreck Found at Cave Point

Report from Acting Chief Islander James Glass - Pictures from James and Norman Glass
On Sunday 13th November 2011, the Fisheries Patrol Boat and Fisheries Rib went to Nightingale to do dredging and juvenile Lobster counting. Several counts were made by Eugene Repetto, Rodney Green and Norman Glass around Petrel Bay, including Spinners Point where the vessel Oliva went aground as well as at Stoltenhoff, whilst Andrew Green looked after the boat. On the return trip back to Tristan a stop was made at Cave Point to try and get a sample there. Norman and Rodney did a count just inside of Cave Point, outside The Pond and to their surprise, came across a wreck, which was thought to be that of a sunken yacht.

On the 15th November the Fisheries Patrol boat went out again to Inaccessible Island, to do some more lobster juvenile counting off South Hill. The weather was good so they made another stop at the Caves, and here Rodney and Norman took another look at the wreck, whilst Andrew tended the boat.

They were able to confirm the structure seen on the previous visit on the 13th was too big to be that of a yacht and confirmed that it was rather a vessel with a length of 30 + metres.

Some of the steel structure was visible and it looked like the bow of the vessel was pointing out to sea while the stern faced the shore. This would point to a likely case that the vessel was in that position due to a dragging anchor, rather than running aground.

Hopefully in the next few weeks, further dives will allow us to study the sunken vessel in more detail as well as providing clues of her origin.

Islanders cannot recall a wreck being seen here before and anyone with any information of a missing vessel should contact James Glass by email on jamespglass@gmail.com to help solve the mystery.

On 22nd November another visit was made to the wreck site at the Cave Point on Tristan da Cunha, by James Glass, Trevor Glass, Rodney Green, Norman Glass, Julian Repetto and George Swain. This time dive bottles were available and they were able to diving on the site, although the current was very strong and visibility not as good as when it was first found.

The team believe the wreck to be larger than originally thought.

A few pictures were taken and one shown right shows part of a winch, probably used to haul the anchor. There will be further surveys when conditions in that area improve.