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''Loch Vennachar'' was a three-masted iron sailing ship (clipper) that operated between Great Britain and Australia between the late 19th century and 1905. The name was drawn from Loch Venachar, a lake which lies to the south-west of the burgh of Callander, in the Stirling region of Scotland. It is understood to mean "most beautiful lady" in Scottish Gaelic.〔De Quincey, T., & Groves, D. (2000). (Articles from the Edinburgh Evening Post, Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine and the Edinburgh Literary Gazette 1826 – 1829 ). London: Pickering and Chatto. (OCLC: 174783948 ).〕 In September 1905, she sank without trace and with all hands, leaving a spray of wreckage scattered along the south coast of Kangaroo Island. In 1976, her extensively damaged remains were discovered in an average depth of 12 metres (40 ft) of water near West Bay, Kangaroo Island in South Australia (SA) by the Society for Underwater Historical Research (SUHR).〔Christopher, P., (1979), ''Some South Australian Shipwrecks'', The Journal of the Historical Society of South Australia, ed. Nance, C., Historical Society of South Australia, North Adelaide, SA, No. 6, pp. 9.〕〔Council for Nautical Archaeology (1979). ''International journal of nautical archaeology and underwater exploration''. London; Volume 8 Issue 2 Page 169-178, May 1979. ISSN: 0305-7445. (OCLC: 1037043 ).〕〔Reschke, W.; (1976), ‘Lady in a rocky coffin: the finding of Loch Vennachar,’ ''The Sunday Mail'', 14 March 1976, pages 46 and 115.〕 == History and description == ''Loch Vennachar'' was built in 1875 by Thomson's on the Clyde for the Glasgow Shipping Company. She was one of a fleet of iron wool clippers of the well-known Loch Line.〔Australian Broadcasting Corporation (2003). (Shipwrecks: Loch Vennachar ). Retrieved online 22 March 2008.〕 Her registered tonnage and dimensions were: 1,552 tons gross, 1,485 tons net; length, 250 feet 1 inch; breadth, 38 feet 3 inches; depth of hold, 22 feet 4 inches. Her usual cargo was usually about 5,500 bales of wool. She was first rigged with fidded royal masts, but this proved to interfere with her stability as there was too much weight aloft. She was then given topgallant and royal masts in one with crossed royal yards over double-topgallants. ''Loch Vennachar'' was always in the wool trade to Adelaide and Melbourne, but when an out wool clipper, she also carried passengers〔"In the year 1896 I left Glasgow in the Loch Vennachar for Melbourne, and had a wonderful run. Captain Bennett, who was a fine sailor, was in command, and taking the time from when we passed Ailsa Craig, in the Firth of Clyde, to Kangaroo Island, just outside Adelaide, we did the journey in 81 days. When we were "running our Easting down" in the Southern Ocean we on one occasion averaged 15 knots an hour for a period of over 24 hours. Her registered tonnage was 1,500, and the cabin accommodation and food were excellent." The Times, Saturday, 10 October 1931; pg. 8; Issue 45950; col B :Letter to the Editor: Mr. Stephen Scrope of 71, The Drive, Hove, 8 Oct.〕 and other cargo.〔''Loch Vennachar expedition report'' (1977), Society for Underwater Historical Research, Kent Town, South Australia. ISBN 0-9597500-1-0. (OCLC: 27625714 ).〕 On her maiden voyage, she was commanded by Captain Francis Wagstaff, leaving Inishtrahull on 6 September 1875. In early 1876, Wagstaff was replaced by Captain William Robertson, who died in 1878 after only making two voyages on the vessel. The command was then given to her first officer, James S. Ozanne, but in 1884, Captain Ozanne handed over command to Captain William H. Bennett. Following Bennett's retirement in 1904,〔"Sir, – With reference to the interesting letters which have appeared in your columns recently regarding the sailing ship Loch Vennachar and the master, that fine seaman Captain W. H. Bennett, no doubt your readers will be interested in the following extract from a letter which I have received to-day from his son, Mr. J. W. Bennett, who resides in London:- "My father was 85 years of age at his death, and left the Loch Vennachar in Melbourne in 1904,..." The Times, Tuesday, 20 October 1931; pg. 10; Issue 45958; col B: Letter to the Editor: G. B. Say, Chief Assistant Secretary. The Imperial Merchant Service Guild, Liverpool, 16 Oct..〕 Captain William S. Hawkins took command until her final voyage in 1905.〔Ship Modelers Association (1997). (The "Loch Vennachar" ). Retrieved online 22 March 2008.〕 ''Loch Vennachar'' was considered an unlucky ship narrowly surviving a cyclone in the Indian Ocean in June 1892.〔The New York Times (1911). (Wrecks that mark the seven seas from Glasgow to Australia ). Retrieved online 23 March 2008.〕 Around 8 pm on 3 June, the barometer began to fall ominously and the sail was promptly shortened. At approximately 5.00 am as darkness lifted it showed terrific head seas that swept down upon the vessel, lashed by the North-East gale. Two large waves approached the ship. ''Loch Vennachar'' rode the first wave and sank into the trough at the other side. While in this position, the second wave came on and broke on deck with such force that it broke the foremast, mainmast and the mizzen topmast. Without her masts to steady her, the ''Loch Vennachar'' rolled dangerously in heavy seas. After 9 days, the weather eased and the crew were able to rig a spar forward and sail on the damaged mizzen. After 5 weeks of sailing, she arrived at Port Louis, Mauritius. Although her stay lasted 5 months while new spars were sent from England, repairs only took 10 days to complete.〔〔 Captain Bennett was awarded the Lloyd's Medal for his leadership and bravery at sea.〔Lubbock, Basil (1948). (). Brown, Son & Ferguson, Glasgow. (OCLC: 185535859 ).〕 ''Loch Vennachar'' suffered another serious accident on 12 November 1901, after a collision with the ''SS Cato'', in the Thames Estuary. After arriving in the Thames, she anchored off the Mucking Light. Just before dawn, she was cut down and holed on the starboard bow by ''Cato'', with one hand being seriously injured. She rapidly sank in 40 feet of water, but all hands, along with the parrot and cat, got clear safely.〔A report in ''The Times'' says the ship was anchored about 10 miles below Gravesend when at 4.15 am on Tuesday, 12 November 1901 she "was struck by the Cato abaft the starboard bow, a large hole being made." The captain (Captain Bennett) ordered the boats out and all 30 crew were taken off safely; but a seaman who was in the forecastle at the time of collision and sustained severe head injuries was in a critical condition. ''The Times'', Wednesday, 13 Nov 1901; pg. 6; Issue 36611; col D〕 She rested on the bottom of the Thames for a month before being raised and repaired at considerable cost,〔"She was sunk when at anchor off Thameshaven by the steamer Cato in November 1901, and subsequently raised and repaired at a cost of £17,000." Mr Browning Dick of Lloyds, quoted in ''The Times'', Wednesday, 14 October 1931; pg. 8; Issue 45953; col E〕 and again put back into service in the Adelaide and Melbourne trade.〔〔The Ship Lists (2006).(Glasgow Shipping Company ). Retrieved online 21 March 2008.〕〔Australian Broadcasting Corporation (2003). (Shipwrecks Audio Transcript > Vennachar Point ). Retrieved online 22 March 2008.〕〔Art Fact (2008). (Lot 625: Derek George Montague Gardner ). Retrieved online 21 March 2008.〕 Despite her unlucky reputation, she sailed between Great Britain and Australia for 30 years without further incident, until her final voyage.〔Australian Government (2006). (EMA Disasters Database: Kangaroo Island ). Retrieved online 21 March 2008.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Loch Vennachar」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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