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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
The note will explain the title, and I have seen, a few other pictures here on TE, also taken here at Brest 1992, of the brick Maria Asumpta. I took a few picture of the ship in 1992, and had even the opportunity to see the 14 July fireworks from the deck. At the time, Maria Asumpta was the oldest tall ship still sailing. Unfortunatly, this long life was to end abruptly in a shipwreck in 1995, on the coast of Cornwall, with the loss of three lives...
I have found an interesting page on Wikipedia which will tell you more about the ship and the shipwreck:
History
The Maria Asumpta was launched at Badalona in 1858, and was involved in the textile trade between Argentina and Spain, later she was used to transport slaves and salt. In the 1930s an engine was installed, and she was renamed Pepita. With the installation of the engine, her rigging was reduced, and in 1953 she was again renamed, this time Cuidad de Inca. By 1978, she was operating without masts in the Mediterranean. In 1980, her owners wanted to sell her engines, and burn the ship. Mark Litchfield and Robin Cecil Wright, who had founded the China Clipper Society, bought the Cuidad de Inca for the value of her engines.
Over the next 18 months, the ship was restored, and became a sail training ship in 1982. Between 1984 and 1988 she was based at Quebec and sailed on the Great Lakes. In 1988 she was renamed Maria Asumpta, and ceased to be registered as a sail training ship. Her status now was a private yacht. She was by then the oldest surviving sailing ship. Maria Asumpta later regained her sail training ship status. In 1994, she took part in a tall ships event at Rouen, France.
Shipwreck
The Maria Asumpta was on her first voyage after a refit at Gloucester. The first part of the voyage was hit by bad weather and she had sheltered at Porlock, Lynmouth and The Mumbles. On the afternoon of the 30 May 1995 she was preparing to enter Padstow harbour. The captain, Mark Litchfield, decided to take her between The Mouls and Pentire Point, which was not a route recommended by the Admiralty.
The engines suddenly stopped, two men were sent to attend to the engine whilst the rest of the crew of fourteen raised more sail. Although lookouts had been posted at the bow, they failed to spot submerged rocks and about five minutes after the engines stopped the Maria Asumpta struck rocks at Rump Point 50°35'40?N 4°55'28?W? / ?50.594556, -4.924389 and began to founder. An immediate mayday was issued. The crew abandoned ship, and many of them jumped onto the rocks, but three crew were drowned. The tragedy was witnessed by many sightseers, who had come to watch the Maria Asumpta's arrival.
Thus this is to remember about this late ship and those who died with her. I have a few picture of the ship under salis which I will post in due time.
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ribeiroantonio, jmdaoudal has marked this note useful
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(12595)
This brings back memories. I sailed on her when she was the Inca, with a group of schoolchildren. Apparently she was found under a pile of cinema seats in a harbour.
We raced another boat called the Marques on a trip called the Clipper Challenge, which was round Britian, with various groups taking part. We sailed from Edinburgh to London.
The Marques appeared in the Onedin Line, but foundered in mid Atlantic not long before the Assumpta.
I took slides, plus a film of them both and may look them out to scan and post some photos.