Wreck of the Paquita
In 1903 on the 18th of October, The Paquita hit the rocks at the notorious Knysna Heads. The heads were known to be unfavourable for a vessel with no engine. The Paquita sank on the eastern side of the lagoon in just 12 metres of water. Evidence however points to the probability that the ship was scuttled deliberately.
The Paquita was a 460-ton barque which is a three-masted sailing vessel. It was built by Leslie & Co. of Newcastle England and owned by C. Berg of Stralsund, Germany. It was first launched in 1862. as a cargo vessel. The Paquita was one of the last of these steel-hulled vessels with no engines.
In April 1903 The Paquita sailed from Goole in Yorkshire with a load of coal destined for Thesen & Co. in Knysna. While in Knysna a strong north-westerly gale caused the Paquita to drag her anchor. According to later reports, the anchor had failed in strong winds. Although the crew had dropped a second anchor as they suspected that the first anchor might have been tampered with. When divers were sent down to lay explosives to blow up and sink the hull which was dangerous to shipping it was apparent by the position of the anchor that the ship hadn’t arrived on the rocks by accident.
