The Narrabeen, which arrived at Cowes in 1928, has been described as the best utility vessel that ever crossed the bay. Carrying cargo, cars and passengers, and even circus elephants on one memorable voyage during her four years of service here, she covered 10,000 miles without the casualty or mishap. Photo: John Jansson.
The Ku Ring Gai 11, pictured at Rhyll the day after it was deliberately torched. Photo: John Jannson.
The SS Genista leaving the Cowes jetty. The Genista served in Westernport from 1889-1932 and featured in several rescues, such as November 12 1905, when the Steamer Queenscliff broke down 9 miles off Cape Woolamai in a gale. According to the Phillip Island Historical Society "she managed to sail close to Cape Woolamai from where Captain McLeod was able to tow her to a safe anchorage with the Genista. The captain telegraphed the agents to tow her to Melbourne." The Genista came from Sydney in 1889 and was pressed into service when a larger vessel was required for a growing population and the opening up of land around San Remo and Grantville. Its arrival coincided with the opening of the new railway line to Stony Point. Photo: John Jansson.
The Alvina, at the Cowes jetty, was built in 1887 near Southhampton, England by Oswald Mordaunt. Operated as the island's ferry from 1925-1938
'The six car punt was towed by motor launch between San Remo and Newhaven. It carried cars to Phillip Island from 1929 to 1940 when the bridge opened. Photo: John Jansson.
The Trucanini
It was in the 1880’s that Captain John Lock bought the Trucanini, a ketch of 45 tons, to Phillip Island, and in her was engaged up until a few days before his death in 1908 in the coastal trade between Westernport bay and Melbourne.
The Trucanini was one of the smartest ketches on the bay at that time, and known as a fine sea boat.
He personally commanded this ketch until within a few days of his death at age 75, in 1908.
The Trucanini was named after the last tribal queen of the Tasmanian aborigines.
A regatta
Catain Lock, in the Trucanini, took part in an international regatta at Brighton in November 1888, which was held as part of the celebrations for the centennial of European settlement in Australia.
Various classes of yachts were involved.
It came third in the Trading Vessels category over a distance of 32 miles.
Two incidents
Josua Gliddon in his book Phillip Island in Picture and Story reported two incidents which could have been disasters;
“Once in the 1890’s, the Trucanini nearly came to grief near McHaffie’s Reef. Anchored well out from shore in a wild northerly, she began to “drag her pick.”
Some scurrying and excitement occurred on board just in the nick of time, while chain and anchor were being cut clear. This allowed her to make a hair’s breadth escape. The anchor was still there in 1910 because it fouled the net of a Hastings fisherman.”
The second incident occurred on a stormy night when the Rip was in a treacherous mood, and a shudder went through the Trucanini. Suddenly the crew heard a loud grating noise. The boom of the ketch was scraping along the plates of a huge ocean liner. Not a cheerful discovery on a dark night, but all in the life of a sailor.
A Cowes Regatta
The Trucanini was the flagship for a regatta held at Cowes over Christmas 1901.
The local ketches Tyro, Swan and Evergreen were to convey visitors to Cowes from French Island and the mainland, and were at the disposal of the committee on the day.
About ten yachts from clubs at Williamstown, Brighton and St Kilda raced in two stages from Williamstown to Queenscliff, and from Queenscliff to Cowes.
The Regatta was held on December 28 with races for yachts and local fishing boats.
The race was hit by a northerly bluster and several yachts ran for shelter before even starting the race, and only one, the Sayonara, completed it.
The Trucanini’s line chafed through on the buoy, compelling her to seek safer quarters.
