Title
Wreck of Tay Craig off Gear Rocks
Description
Wreck of Tay Craig
Nine sailors were saved on a stormy day when a steamer floundered on rocks just off Penzance. It was exactly 87 years ago, in the early hours of the morning that the Taycraig, a Cornish owned but London registered steamer came a cropper when it struck Gear Rocks just off Penzance Promenade.
In a strong gale of wind which sprang up suddenly, and a blinding rainstorm, the steamer was driven up on to the rocks. The steamer wrapped herself around the tall post and cage beacon of gear Rocks while en route to Newlyn to take on roadstone. Her crew were burning mattresses to attract attention. The lifeboats search lights showed that they were wearing life jackets and seeking shelter in the fire house at the forecastle head. They did manage to attract attention and the Penlee Lifeboat was launched to come to their aid.
However the weather was reportedly so foul on that dreadful in January 1936, that it took the Penlee crew - who did not have the modern equipment of today - half an hour to reach the ship only over a mile away from Penlee lifeboat station. Other report said the storm was so ferocious that day that bits of the broken up ship were flung over onto the Prom.
Yet the lifeboat crew did manage to reach the steamer and managed to save all nine sailors on board including one who had reportedly jumped overboard but was quickly picked up. The Tacraig eventually sank until her funnel and masts stood out of the water and could not be salvaged.
A spokeswoman for Penlee Lifeboat station said: "Another January day and another meritorious rescue from our archives. Some 87 years ago today, during the early hours of 27 January 1936, the new W and S lifeboat launched from Penlee Point, Mousehole and went to the assistance of the steamer ‘Taycraig’ which had struck Gear Rocks just off Penzance Promenade.
From Cornwall Live 2023-01-29
Nine sailors were saved on a stormy day when a steamer floundered on rocks just off Penzance. It was exactly 87 years ago, in the early hours of the morning that the Taycraig, a Cornish owned but London registered steamer came a cropper when it struck Gear Rocks just off Penzance Promenade.
In a strong gale of wind which sprang up suddenly, and a blinding rainstorm, the steamer was driven up on to the rocks. The steamer wrapped herself around the tall post and cage beacon of gear Rocks while en route to Newlyn to take on roadstone. Her crew were burning mattresses to attract attention. The lifeboats search lights showed that they were wearing life jackets and seeking shelter in the fire house at the forecastle head. They did manage to attract attention and the Penlee Lifeboat was launched to come to their aid.
However the weather was reportedly so foul on that dreadful in January 1936, that it took the Penlee crew - who did not have the modern equipment of today - half an hour to reach the ship only over a mile away from Penlee lifeboat station. Other report said the storm was so ferocious that day that bits of the broken up ship were flung over onto the Prom.
Yet the lifeboat crew did manage to reach the steamer and managed to save all nine sailors on board including one who had reportedly jumped overboard but was quickly picked up. The Tacraig eventually sank until her funnel and masts stood out of the water and could not be salvaged.
A spokeswoman for Penlee Lifeboat station said: "Another January day and another meritorious rescue from our archives. Some 87 years ago today, during the early hours of 27 January 1936, the new W and S lifeboat launched from Penlee Point, Mousehole and went to the assistance of the steamer ‘Taycraig’ which had struck Gear Rocks just off Penzance Promenade.
From Cornwall Live 2023-01-29
Publisher
Morrab Library
Date
1936-01-27
Rights
Morrab Library
Format
Print
Identifier
M.2527
Coverage
Gear Rocks
Penzance