OVERdeBERG 77

0656862204 [email protected] Jaargang 2 Uitgawe 77 © Jacques Louw (2021). Alle regte voorbehou. Vrydag 30 Julie 2021 In hierdie uitgawe... Swellendam restaurant Wanneer Leeus Strandroof: 3de beste in Afrika bome plant ‘Queen of the Thames’ 3 10 16 0656862204 (WhatsApp) Sonskyn, sneeu [email protected] en Canola (e-pos) Kontak ons gerus! Photo: Cathy van Eeden/Swellendam Experience/FB “What a find! Email: [email protected] Adrian and Jill have created something really special here. www.blueskyguesthousearniston.co.za The attention to detail is exceptional…” Phone: +27 28 4459010 - TripAdvisor Cell: +27 71 4186209 [email protected] See our Nightsbridge listing for availability and bookings. 1

2 Vrydag 30 Julie 2021 Redaksioneel No.10, 5th Avenue, Arniston Vrydag 30 Julie 2021 Email: [email protected] Goeiedag en welkom by ons 77ste uitgawe www.blueskyguesthousearniston.co.za van OVERdeBERG. Hierdie is jou ware ge- meenskapskoerant wat jou positief ingelig Phone: +27 28 445 9010 hou. Ons stuur weg van die negatiewe en Cell: +27 71 418 6209 kies om die positiewe nuus en ander ge- beurlikhede uit die Overbergstreek met See our Nightsbridge listing for availability julle te deel op ‘n weeklikse basis. and bookings. Ons het hiérdie week weer ‘n lekker besige en propvol uitgawe Special vir julle en dit is ‘n voorreg om week na week die Overberg se offer nuus en gebeurlikhede aan julle te bring. R995.00 ‘n Restaurant in Swellendam behaal ‘n pragtige prestasie wat ons op bladsy 3 met julle deel en ons gaan kuier ook weer lek- per room per night for two people ker in die kombuis met twee vingerleklekker resepte op bladsy 4 vir julle om te probeer. Breakfast included. Direct bookings only. Gaan loer gerus ook in op bladsy 4 by ons unieke gemeen- skapsdagboek, waar jy jou gebeurlikheid gratis kan plaas. Kon- tak ons gerus daarvoor. Ons bring aan jou die nuutste rondom die COVID-19 inentingsprogram hier in die Overberg, asook informatiewe grafieka rondom COVID-19. Ons berig ook oor die uitbreiding van die ‘Overberg Renoster- veld Conservation Trust’ se grondgebied op bladsy 7 en 8. Dan is daar ook ‘n bydrae oor die walvis wat uitgespoel het langs die kus by De Hoop en dan gaan kyk ons hoe die geskiedenis her- haal word met Leeus wat bome plant op Hermanus. Adoons-hulle is weer woelig op bladsy 13 met hul kaskenades in die Magaliesberge. Ons publiseer weekliks die nimlike en ook pragtige strokies van wyle T.O. Honiball, waarvoor ons die reg- te ontvang het. Dit sluit in Jakkals & Wolf, Adoons-hulle en na- tuurlik die grootpraatstories van Oom Kaspaas Breekwater. Dié stories was vir baie jare deel van die geelbladsye van die Land- bouweekblad. Ons uitgawe word weer oudergewoonte afgesluit deur Jimmy Herbert met nog ‘n uiters interessante deel van die Overberg se maritieme geskiedenis. Geniet die uitgawe, bly veilig en gesond dan gesels ons weer volgende week verder. Groetnis! “The trials on the road to world harmony are no greater than the courage of those who accept the challenge.” Carl Lewis 2 [email protected]

Vrydag 30 Julie 2021 3 OArllaolvoeror Meanwhile in Swellendam... A message from them 380 000 L dam The original to you... with Liquid Rubber Third Best Fine Dining Restaurant in Africa! Rubber Sealant First of all we want to thank each and every one who has sup- Click below to view ported us through these last 15 months. Thank you to every Click below to view person who bought our take away meals when we couldn't 3 open, and everyone who dined with us when we could. We are grateful to our staff that has been by our side and whom we have fought to keep employed. This pandemic has pushed us to our absolute limits. Financially and morally it has been the most testing time we have ever had to face. It's a bittersweet moment. Receiving such an important award and yet our industry globally is in a very unstable and trying period. We are a small, family run business, but we have great passion and determination. We hope that some day soon we will be able to thank you in person for your support and for the time you took to write a review. We are humbled, we are proud, but mostly we are so grateful that we can still do the job that we love. “There is no shortcut for hard work that leads to effectiveness. You must stay disciplined be- cause most of the work is behind the scenes.” Germany Kent [email protected]

4 Vrydag 30 Julie 2021 Kombuiskuier gaar. Voeg dan die tamatiepulp, geblikte tamatie, pietersielie, kruisement, kaneel en peper by en prut stadig vir so 10 minute. Verwyder van die stoof. Jacques Louw Droog die eiervrug af met absorberende papier. Sprinkel olyf- olie in plat bakplaat, en pak die eiervrugsnye daarop. Bak die eiervrug vir ongeveer 5 minute aan ‘n kant, en plaas dit weer op kombuispapier. Smeer botter op ’n oondpan en pak die helfte van die eiervrug op die bodem (enkel laag). Plaas die murgpampoentjies bo-op die eiervrug, en dan die vleismeng- sel. Herhaal die proses tot die bak amper vol is. Verhit dan die oond tot 180°C terwyl jy die kaassous maak. Verhit die botter in ‘n pan oor lae hitte. Geurige moussaka Voeg die meel/Maizena bietjie-vir-bietjie by en roer vir 2 minute. Verwyder dit van die hitte. Voeg die melk by en roer dit in. Plaas Bestanddele: dit terug op die hitte. Roer dit stadig tot die sous dik en romerig is en effens borrel. Verwyder sous van die hitte, en klop die kaas in gevolg deur die lig geklitste eierbeslag. (Klits dit vinnig want jy wil nie roereier hê nie!) Voeg die sous bo-oor die ei- ervrug- en vleismengsel, en skud bak ligggies sodat die sous egalig bo-op versprei is. Bak vir 40 minute tot die bolaag bruin is en kante liggies prut. Haal dit uit die oond en laat dit vir 10 mi- nute rus. Bedien met ‘n gekapte-spinasie-en-lemoenwiggie-slaai. 500 g eiervrug 4 middelslag murgpampoentjies 600 g beesmaalvleis 1 groot ui, opgekap 500 g gekapte geblikte tamatie 400 g tamatiepulp (passata) 1 eetlepel gekapte pietersielie 1 eetlepel vars gekapte kruisement ½ teelepel fyn kaneel ¼ teelepel growwe swartpeper 2 eetlepels olyfolie sout na smaak Kaassous: Foto’s & resepte: RSG Resepte 90 g botter Lekker lemoenkoek 1/3 koppie Maizena of koekmeel 2 koppies melk 2 groot eiers, waarvan 1 geklits Bestanddele: 1 koppie gerasperde Cheddarkaas 3 eiers Metode: ¾ koppie strooisuiker 1½ koppie koekmeel 1½ teelepels bakpoeier Sny die punte van die eiervrug af (ek verkies om skil te behou) en ½ teelepel sout sny dit dan in 1 cm dik snye. Sprinkel beide kante van eier-vrug 11 eetlepels melk liggies met sout (om die vog te absorbeer) en plaas in ‘n bak vir 1 3 eetlepels botter uur. Sny die murgpampoentjies in skywe en braai liggies. Verhit ‘n pan met olyfolie en braai die maalvleis en uie oor lae hitte tot Sous: 1¼ koppie suiker 1 koppie water 1 koppie vars uitgedrukte lemoensap 3 teelepels lemoenskil, gerasper 2 eetlepels botter knippie sout Metode: Kook die melk en botter saam, en laat dit effens afkoel. Klop die eiers en suiker goed saam. Sif in ‘n ander bak die meel, bak- poeier en sout saam. Voeg dit by die eiermengsel. Vou die melk en bottermengsel in by die meel-en-eiermengsel. Voeg die be- slag in ‘n ringkoekpan, en bak vir 20 – 25 min teen 180°C. Sous: Kook al die bestanddele saam, gooi die sous oor die warm koek in die pan. Laat die koek rus totdat dit al die sous absorbeer het. 4 [email protected]

Vrydag 30 Julie 2021 5 GemeenskapsdagboekKontak ons by 065 686 2204 (WhatsApp) om jou gebeurtenis gratis hiér te adverteer. diary CommunityContact us by email at [email protected] to advertise your event here for free. Ons hou jou positief ingelig! Toesighouers benodig Kontak ons gerus vir die volgende:  Interaktiewe advertensies  Interaktiewe nuusbriewe  Logo-ontwerpe  Facebookbladbestuur  Laagste kostes WhatsApp: 0656862204 E-pos: [email protected] Matriekeindeksamen Hoërskool Overberg, Caledon 19 Oktober tot 7 Desember 2021 Vereistes: 1.) Nie jonger as 25 of ouer as 65 jaar wees nie. 2.) nie ‘n ouer of enige verwantskap met enige gr.12- kandidaat hê nie. 3.) in besit wees van ‘n graad 12-sertifikaat of minstens vlak 4 (NQF) 4.) ‘n Suid-Afrikaanse burger wees. Stuur ‘n e-pos aan [email protected] indien u sou belangstel. Die skool sal u dan kontak. [email protected] 5

6 Vrydag 30 Julie 2021 Overberg COVID-19  Vaccination of the bedridden in their homes. Vaccination Weekly Update Temporary service delivery changes at Health facilities Although we can see a slight decline in active COVID-19 cases Up to the 26th of July, we have vaccinated 38 760 persons in our facilities are still under pressure and needs to continue re- the Overberg District, this includes health workers (as part ducing the amount pf patient contact in our facilities. This means of the Sisonke trial) and educators. certain non-emergency service will be scaled down. We urge any citizen 60 years and older who has not registered, Changes in the current service delivery offering include: or have not received an appointment, to please go to their clos- Non-urgent outpatient appointments will be postponed, and pa- est public vaccination site for assisted registration and vaccina- tients given alternative dates; tion. The first dose for 60-year and older remains the highest Non-urgent elective surgery will be postponed, and patients priority at the moment. This age group is our most vulnerable provided with a later date; and we need to do everything we can to protect them, by ensur- Patients who are in hospital but are stable will be discharged for ing their immune system can fight off severe illness by being further management at home or at an intermediate care facility; vaccinated. Outreaches from Districts and Regional hospitals will be sus- pended; Patients are urged to only access the Emergency Centre for emergencies. Non-emergencies to access healthcare services at nearest clinic. We understand this might be an inconvenience to some, but it is important to remember why we are doing this – to ensure we have sufficient capacity to provide emergency medical care to those with life-threatening conditions and those who are admit- ted with COVID-19. Photo: Gurswin Prins/CAM Communication Roché Butler Communications Officer Overberg District Western Cape Government: Health +27 28 214 5833 (Tel); +27 68 074 2455 (Cell) The EVDS system will continue to allocate available appointment slots in the following order of priority: Priority 1 - people 60 years and older requiring their 1st dose of Pfizer vaccine; Priority 2 - people 60 years and older requiring their 2nd dose of Pfizer vaccine; Priority 3 - people aged 50 -59 years requiring their 1st dose of Pfizer vaccine; Priority 4 - people aged 35-49 years with a valid appointment SMS, requiring their 1st dose of Pfizer vaccine. As usual, a limited number of walk-ins (over 60s will be priori- tised) will be accommodated at the vaccination sites. Not all vac- cination sites will have equal capacity on the day to tend to all appointments or walk ins, and our total vaccinations will be guid- ed by local demand at that specific site. When visiting a vaccination site please remember your identifica- tion document, if you need to receive your second dose, please remember your vaccination card received when you got your first dose. All vaccinations sites in the Overberg will be operational on scheduled dates between 09:00 - 14:00. It is not necessary to queue at vaccination sites earlier than operational times. The Department has identified several areas where there is low registration and uptake of vaccination. We are working with a range of partners to on innovative initiatives through which we can take vaccines to the vulnerable communities, making vac- cination easier accessible for them. These outreaches and community mobilization drives include:  Outreaches to old age homes to administer second doses; [email protected]  Outreaches to remote farms;  Vaccinations at chronic clubs;  “Boots on the Ground drives” where Community Health Works do door to door registrations; 6

Vrydag 30 Julie 2021 7 Chris Martens, Fynbos Trust Managing Director, who is responsi- New ble for managing the Vogelrivier property (also known as Kole- Conservation skloof farm), says it was bought for conservation purposes by Peter and Claudia Krcmar in 2016. “It’s an incredibly important piece of land in terms of biodiversity. Easement Area The property adjoins the De Hoop Nature Reserve and is part of the De Hoop Vlei, which makes it a highly valuable conservation site. The vlei and surrounds should be well managed both in its head- With a new conservation easement signed, the Overberg waters on Vogelrivier as well as the portion on De Hoop Nature Renosterveld Conservation Trust (ORCT) takes a step clos- Reserve. It’s a Ramsar site on the De Hoop side, but not on our er to realising a conservation dream: To protect and restore side. So by signing this easement, we’re showing our commit- the entire length of the Sout River (Salt River) in the Over- ment to the long-term conservation of the site,” Chris says. berg forever. Continued on page 8 The new easement, called the Vogelrivier Conservation Ease- ment, brings 2581 hectares of natural habitat into the ORCT’s Conservation Easement Programme, to be protected in Babiana patula perpetuity. This site is important for many reasons, in particular given that it includes the De Hoop Vlei, a declared Ramsar site. This property also provides a crucial corridor between the vlei and the eastern Rûens. Photo: Overberg Renosterveld Conservation Trust/FB Photo: Overberg Renosterveld Conservation Trust/FB According to ORCT Director, Odette Curtis-Scott, with the new signing, the ORCT is taking a large step towards reaching their dream. “We had already secured much of the headwaters of the Sout River through the signing of the Kleindam easement, as well as some important sites along the river (Kykoedie and Keykas easements) Now with Vogelrivier, we have secured the end of the river, leading into the De Hoop Vlei. We’re slowly bringing the pieces of the puzzle together. Our dream is to work with farmers to bring the whole river into this level of protection and restore it.” The easement site has been identified by both CapeNature and the Table Mountain Fund in its Climate Corridor Action Plan as a vital biodiversity site. Photo: Overberg Renosterveld Conservation Trust/FB [email protected] 7

8 Vrydag 30 Julie 2021 New Conservation Easement Area Continued from page 7 The well known De Hoop Nature Reserve is also designated as an Important Biodiversity Area by BirdLife South Africa. The easement therefore secures the only remaining privately-owned section of the De Hoop Vlei. The farm is home to a significant number of threatened and endangered species. Botanical gems such as the Endanger- ed Erica radicans ssp. schlechteri, the Rare Erica sperata and the Near Threatened Jamesbrittenia calciphila all occur here. It’s also a wildlife hub, especially for bird populations. Chris Martens (right) of the Fynbos Trust signs the easement with the ORCT’s Grant Forbes. Photo: Overberg Renosterveld Conservation Trust/FB The Fynbos Trust was started by Peter and Claudia Krcmar, and through their funding support, the property is being carefully man- aged, with invasive alien plants being cleared along the vlei. Chris says, “In fact, the funding support of the Krcmars has been ena- bled by far-sighted German fiscal policies, which allows them to spend money in South Africa for conservation purposes.” Photo: Overberg Renosterveld Conservation Trust/FB With the latest conservation easement signing, the ORCT now has around 6000 hectares of natural habitat included in the easement programme, including 3600 of Critically Endan- gered Renosterveld that are therefore protected forever. Source: Overberg Renosterveld Conservation Trust According to Chris, the property was named Vogelrivier “becau- se it’s an important site for birds, especially for Paleartic mi- grants, such as Grebes, several visiting and resident waders and waterfowl, and nomadic species such as Flamingos and Pelicans.” A number of interesting terrestrial bird species have also only been recorded on this property, such as the White- fronted Bee-eater and Olive Bush Shrike. Mammals such as the Endangered Cape Mountain Zebra, Vul- nerable Cape Leopard, Near Threatened Cape Clawless Otter and a range of threatened bat species are also found here, many moving between the De Hoop Nature Reserve and Vo- gelrivier. The total area signed into a conservation easement consists of 2088 hectares of De Hoop Limestone Fynbos, 170 hectares of Cape Lowland Freshwater Wetlands and 129 hectares of Criti- cally Endangered Eastern Rûens Shale Renosterveld. Maak Radio Overberg fm deel van jou besigheid se bemarkingstrategie! Kontak ons vir ‘n pasgemaakte lugtydpakket! 028 424 2877 (T) [email protected] (E) 8 [email protected]

Vrydag 30 Julie 2021 9 [email protected] 9

10 Vrydag 30 Julie 2021 Gentle Giant comes to its final resting place In 1949 Hermanus had the touring All Black team as visitors. Residing at the Marine Hotel the team was actively involved with numerous events in our town, and the one that we treas- ure most was the planting of a grove of gum trees. Photo: Hermanus Old Boys/Hermanus High School/FB When history repeats itself... Incredible (yet sad) to witness this magnificent specimen of a Humpback Whale on our shores. Although we are still investigat- ing how it died, it’s inspiring to know that these giants are still out there below the blue surface of our oceans. Photos: De Hoop Collection Nature Reserve/FB Photo: Billy Stickland (Inpho Photography) “Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone plant- ed a tree a long time ago.” In 1949 Hermanus had the touring All Black team as visitors. Residing at the Marine Hotel the team was actively involved with numerous events in our town, and the one that we treasure most was the planting of a grove of gum trees. Most of these trees were taken out to make space for buildings, but two of these still remain on our school grounds. This week, now 72 years later, the touring British and Irish Lions team repeated history. Lions flanker Hamish Watson and Du- han van der Merwe (wing) took the time out of their busy sched- ule to assist with our tree planting! Source: Hermanus High School/FB “We keep thinking history happened to some- one else, but history is where we came from; what happened before us is how we got to where we are.” Kameron Hurley 10 [email protected]

Vrydag 30 Julie 2021 11 Photo: Lighthouse 2 Lighthouse Ladies/FB “If adventure has a final and all-embracing motive, it is surely this: we go out because it is our nature to go out, to climb mountains, and to paddle rivers, to fly to the planets and plunge into the depths of the oceans… When man ceases to do these things, he is no longer man.” Wilfrid Noyce As jy graag jou besigheid in OVERdeBERG wil adverteer, kontak ons gerus vir die nodige inligting. ‘n Verskeidenheid opsies is beskikbaar teen die laagste pryse in die Overberg. WhatsApp by 0656862204 of [email protected] (e-pos) [email protected] 11

12 Vrydag 30 Julie 2021 12 [email protected]

Vrydag 30 Julie 2021 13 Adoons-hulle ...daar doer in die Bosveld [email protected] 13

14 Vrydag 30 Julie 2021 As julle graag gebruik wil maak van ons WhatsApp groep, kan julle net die QR-kode skandeer met julle slimfone. Ons plaas slegs weekliks die koerant se skakels waar dit gelees kan word daarop. Julle kan ook nuus en foto’s aanstuur op hiérdie platvorm. 14 [email protected]

Vrydag 30 Julie 2021 15 “STRANDROOF” ALONG THE OVERBERG COAST: QUEEN OF THE THAMES 1871 Some passengers whole-heartedly believed that the loss of the ship could mainly be attributed to one woman. Captain George MacDonald, the Master of the Queen of the Thames, and whose wife accompanied him on the trip, openly and shame- lessly fancied and endeavoured to befriend and court one of the young female passengers. Intoxication and this madness that only a desirable woman can cause in a man jointly appeared to have taken over all of Captain MacDonald’s upper faculties to the point that he neglected most of his essential duties. One unidentified female diarist, affectionately referred to as \"Grandma\" by her companions, noted that before the ship was at sea ten days, the more sober-minded \"began to be disgusted and indignant with Captain Macdonald's behaviour\". She went It is remarkable that the amidships section of the Queen of the on to diarise that Macdonald's elderly wife, who \"almost wor- Thames stands to this day for even on that Wednesday (22nd shipped him in his own fancied superiority to herself\", began to March 1871), a storm came up and the sea became extremely be \"neglected and his whole attention given to another lady\". rough. It is reported that the sea was breaking at least two miles \"Grandma” claimed that even on the beach Macdonald, who outside the wreck. It could be seen that huge waves were break- tried to sleep off his stupor, \"seemed still besotted by his lady ing completely over the vessel. The men were lashed to the tops friend\". of the three lower masts, not daring to descend to the deck on Some men did not scruple to say that, to carry on this philander- account of the massive seas. ing, he neglected his duty and that this lady had wrecked the Over the last 146 years, her place of rest must have been ship. The loss of baggage and want of discipline and order was exposed to many such great storms. Yet, to this day, a por- also attributed to the intoxication of the Captain. The belief was tion of the majestic Queen of the Thames can clearly be that had he placed some officers in command to protect the seen from the space satellites. baggage of the passengers, it would have been possible to land all of it. The best proof of this was that a few days later one pas- senger went out to the ship and saved his own chest from the bottom of the hold that was still perfectly dry. This he did for a full three days after the wrecking, on the Tuesday (20th March) during spring low tide. JIMMY HERBERT It appears that a day or so after the wrecking, while utilising the Retired lecturer: abnormally low tides experience during a new moon and the Stellenbosch University lack of order, the plunder started. It was narrated that during the (1977-2013) day the boats were employed to land a portion of the baggage. Writer & Specialist in Maritime So great was the disorder that prevailed during the latter part of History and Archaeology that Sunday and the following day that much of the luggage brought to shore proved to have been broken open and plun- In next week’s issue... dered. In a newspaper report ten years later (1881), they wrote, “It might be remembered that with the Queen of the Thames crew waded out to her at low tide to rummage the luggage and indulge in their favourite vice of drinking”. Mr. Lane, formerly a merchant at Melbourne, declared that the locks of the drawers in his cabin had been forced open and articles of jewellery belonging to himself and his wife stolen. He and others who went back and went on board described the hold as representing “a ransacked city”. [email protected] Treasure map or not? 15

16 Vrydag 30 Julie 2021 History of the Overberg Jimmy Herbert “STRANDROOF” The purpose of all this technology and fineness was to demon- ALONG THE OVERBERG COAST: strate and prove the feasibility of making the run out from Eng- land, via South Africa to Australia and back in the shortest period QUEEN OF THE THAMES 1871 of time ever yet accomplished. The trip around the Cape was The Queen of the Thames was not only rated as one of the preferred by passengers to the blinding dust, sweltering heat and finest ships in the world at that time, but to this day, she sluggish route through the Suez Canal. Furthermore, a speedier was the classiest ship ever to be lost on our Overberg passage ensured the much sort after, faster communication coastline. (mail) between colony and home. What makes the “strandroof” of the Queen of the Thames spe- Due to strong headwinds, the Queen of the Thames was com- cial is that most of the looting was done on the ship itself, while pelled to use her engine the whole of the passage making her she was still standing undamaged in her full glory. Yet sadly, canvas sails of not much use to her on her first journey to Aus- irretrievably fixed upon a sandbank at Ryspunt some 20km east tralia. The trip took her only 55 days. The Australian press re- of the town of Arniston. ported that \"even the most bitter opponent of this line could not but confess that the voyage had proved a decided success.” Everyone had only the highest praise for the living on board. The passenger list for the homeward voyage reflected both the ship's popularity and faith in the success of the Cape route. Car- go for the return voyage was valued at \"upward of £100,000\" and consisted of molasses, 80 pipes and 264 casks of tallow, 102 bales of hides, 8208 cakes of copper ore, 415 blocks of anti- mony, 1698 bales of wool, £7000 worth of gold dust, 3000 sover- eigns, and other articles of merchandise, which were stowed in the ordinary way with the wool being on top. In 1870, Devitt and Moore, one of the leading shipbroking firms of London, launched an ambitious experiment. The aim was to demonstrate the practicality and economic viability of steam over sail for a regular route back and forth between England and Australia via the Cape of Good Hope. It was an enterprising move. The S.S. Queen of the Thames was chosen to be the forerunner 1871-YOUNG-HEAD of the new line. At the time, it was postulated that once the three GOLD-SOVEREIGN products of the nineteenth century ‒ iron vessels, screw propel- lers and compound engines ‒ were combined effectively in the mid-1860s, the ultimate triumph of steam over sail, in both cargo and passenger trade, was only a question of time. Capitalising on the latest developments in steamship technology, Devitt and Moore launched the Queen of the Thames on the Clyde on 11 August 1870. Those acquainted with shipbuilding considered this ship to be Exactly within a month from the date of her departure on her as fine a steamer of its class as had ever been launched on the homeward voyage, the vessel was helplessly wrecked. Clyde. Built by the celebrated firm of Robert Napier and Sons, She left Melbourne for London on Saturday, 18 February and the Queen of the Thames registered 2607 tonnes gross, and struck the ground on Saturday 18 March at exactly 01h20. At- boasted three decks and three masts. She was classed A1 at tempts to back her off proved fruitless. Lloyds. With a length 322.5ft, breadth 41.1ft and depth draft As the weather was good and the sea calm with first light 20.5ft, she was supplied with powerful engines built according to (approaching spring low tide), all the passengers and crew to the the newest and most approved principle of construction. number of 315 souls were safely landed. In this same time, three With a normal horsepower of 400, she was capable of exerting boxes of gold [1,000 sovereigns per box] were carefully landed an actual working power of 2000 horse. The Queen of the and sent to Bredasdorp on a dray. Thames had both engine and three sails (see picture) and was expected to be able to travel at the rate of 13 or 14 knots per Continued on page 15 hour. 16 [email protected]