The Wreck of the Stavenisse

On the night of the 16th of February 1686 the East India Company's third class ship Stavenisse, on her return passage from India to Europe, was wrecked on the African coast about one hundred and twelve kilometres or seventy English miles south of the bay of Natal. The weather had been overcast, and Skipper Willem Knyf and his officers believed themselves far from land. In those days longitude at sea was always uncertain, but in this instance the latitude had also been miscalculated. When the look-out reported that he saw land, the chief mate, Ysbrand Hogesaad, who was the officer of the watch, replied sharply that it could only be a bank of mist. He would not even take the trouble to go forward and look for himself, so confident was he of being well out at sea. Presently the look-out reported again that land was close under the bow, and almost at the same moment breakers were seen, and the roar of the surf was heard. It was very dark, and the light breeze was dying away into a perfect calm. The alarm was given, when all hands sprang on deck, and as fast as possible the two bower anchors were got out.

The Stavenisse was drifting slowly towards the shore. The port bower held, and she swung to it, but by this time she was among breakers. In this condition she lay for a couple of hours, when the cable parted and she struck.