Page 10 - CYAA 2022 Winter Series Race 7 31st July

A

TERRIBLE CATASTROPHE.

FOUNDERING OF A

YACHT. SEVEN LIVES LOST.

OFF THE WERRIBEE SHORE

THE QUEENIE GOES DOWN

WITH ALL HANDS
Extracts
The Argus
Wednesday April 5 1899

STATEMENT BY MR. GOLLIN
Mr A Gollin, owner of the yacht Uira, also stated that the Uira was the last of the Melbourne
owned yachts to leave Geelong after the regatta, and, at 5 o’clock last evening, they were
off the Little River shore, at the spot indicated by Mr. Parker. The sailing-master (Cheel)
first drew their attention to the masthead of the sunken yacht, “The weather which
prevailed in the vicinity of Geelong and along the shore to Werribee on Sunday was of a
very boisterous nature, and he had little doubt that the Queenie was overwhelmed by a
terrific squall, which almost “laid the Uira down” on the afternoon of that day. This squall
was of exceptional severity, and, although the Uira was, fortunately under the lee of the
Portarlington shore when the storm overtook them, the boat had a hard struggle to hold
her own. The squall, which came from the W.S.W., burst upon them with great suddenness,
and, as they judged the Queenie to be then about five of six miles in their wake, she had
probably encountered it after it had passed them by. It lasted from 20 minutes to half an
hour. The Queenie met the squall in more exposed waters and there being a strong
probability that being taken unawares by one of the fearful gusts, she heeled over, filled
and sank before her unfortunate occupants had time to realise the danger of their situation.