Maritime record MWX2379 - Contest

The Poole lifeboat was launched to her assistance and put some of the crew on board and assisted in discharging 150 tons of granite. That evening the gale increased and the lifeboat again went out to take off the remaining men. (1) A series of launches were made to the Guernsey brig CONTEST in NOV-1867. On the 16th the brig went aground on the Hook Sand in a bitterly easterly gale but when the lifeboat went alongside the crew would not leave. Coxswain Stokes decided to standby in case they were needed, they were there for 3 hours, the men suffering in the open boats and she returned to Poole only when the brig was left steady by a falling tide. A second launch on the next tide had the same results and the lifeboat returned after arranging a signal to be made if help was required. During the day 36 labourers were put onboard the CONTEST to lighten her by throwing overboard some of her granite cargo. Sometime later the pre-arranged signal was made and the lifeboat went out towed by the ROYAL ALBERT. She first took a warp from the tug to the brig but in a short while it broke. The brigs master then signalled that he would abandon the ship. The tug towed the lifeboat to and fro three times, on the first trip taking off and landing 12 men. On the second with 24 on board, the lifeboat was struck by heavy seas on the bar and was completely submerged, she freed herself of water and landed the men soaked but safe. a third trip brought ashore the remaining men, the crew of the brig with most of their kit. (2)

Built: 1866
Builder: Thomas
Where Built: Guernsey
Master: J Blackler
Crew: 10

Additional sources cited in United Kingdom Shipwreck Index.

Tonnage net

<1> Larn, R, and Larn, B, 1995, Shipwreck index of the British Isles, volume 1 : Isles of Scilly, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset Section 6, Dorset (AJ) Vol 1 (Monograph). SWX4541.

<2> Farr, Grahame, 1971, Wreck and rescue on the Dorset coast, p116 (Monograph). SWX1056.

<3> Le Pard, G, 1995-2003, Dorset Coast Forum Maritime Archaeological Database, Shipwreck 693 (Digital archive). SWX8707.

<4> Cumming, E, The Dorset shipwreck and maritime incident directory, 24 (Monograph). SDO16406.

Record last edited

Feb 24 2020 11:45AM