I took this photograph of a sunken cruising yacht from the car ferry while crossing between Russell Island and Redlands in southern Moreton Bay, Queensland.
According to the ferry's engineer, the yacht sank about three months ago. It ran aground at high tide and “fell over” when the tide dropped, puncturing the ferro-cement hull. The owners managed to get it upright again but then it fell on the other side, causing another puncture.
As it is almost impossible (and prohibitively expensive) to insure a “floating footpath” these days, there was no insurance and the boat appears to have been abandoned, still with the main on the boom and the headsail on the furler. It's a shame as the radar dome and ketch rig indicate she was once a much-loved cruising yacht that no doubt brought pleasure to those who sailed on her.
If anyone has any further information, please add your comments below.
– Roger McMillan, editor.
