THE LURE OF THE EAST BEACH
The Saguton: Note the Norwegian flag flying from at the stern.
Via Bob Holden.
It states on the back of this photo that this ship is the Sagatun I think that is wrong. She does match up to other infomation that I have. Could it be the Gannet (February 14th 1882) ?
Via Bob Holden.
The "MERWEDE" 6 Dec 1929.
Via Bob Holden
The "Jachin" March 15th 1914?
W R Wynter
Yacht "Thurso"
Via Bob Holden.
They lie like stricken whales
By Colin Holden
Records show that the beach between Seaford and Newhaven has been the landfall and wreck of many ships from the 17th century right up until the present day. The incident usually came about during bad weather when the vessels were attempting to gain the shelter of Newhaven Harbour but only succeeding in making landfall on the beach. Not only large vessels but even down to small pleasure craft, these pictures show some of those which did not make harbour. Many made it off safely but there were also those that did not.
The first photo is one of these unfortunate victims. This was the "SAGATUN", a 500 ton Norwegian vessel loaded with timber in transit from Pited in Sweden to Newhaven. On the 26th September 1900 she came ashore in Seaford Bay and became a total wreck. All those aboard were rescued by rocket apparatus : They were Captain Simensen, his 15 year old daughter, and his crew of nine. The load of timber was also salvaged.
The second photo bears a note on the back stating that it also is the "The SAGATUN" but is thought to be another vessl as the rigging and above deck construction do not bear much resemblance to that seen in known photos of the "SAGATUN"
Next is the "SS MERWEDE", ashore at The Buckle in December 1929. Carrying a cargo of Bricks, this cargo was unloaded using her own derricks then with a suitable high tide, she was safely towed off. And story has it that the bricks ended up being used in local building.
The fourth photo is of the "JACHIN" a 70 Ton sailing barge (also known as a stack or stackie from the way in which the cargo was "stacked" on the deck). Built in 1893 she was damaged when she was blown ashore onto a groyne on the East Beach. She was refloated and after repair was renamed the "VENTA". She was later sold and became a houseboat which survived into the 1980's based on the Medway in Kent. It then became a hulk and was finally burnt in 1995.
The last photo shows a private, yacht the "Thurso" about which I have no information but which shows that any craft can come to grief.