On the 17th August, 1803, Captain Matthew Flinders, the man responsible for ‘mapping Australia’ was returning to England on the HM Porpoise with 2 other ships, the HM Cato and the HM Cumberland when the Porpoise and the Cato both hit an unknown reef, 1000 miles north of Sydney and 200 miles east of present day Bundaberg. Flinders organised a remarkable rescue mission after the 3rd ship, the Cumberland abandoned the survivors of the 2 shipwrecks.
Boating Downunder is currently researching the circumstances around this story with Andrew Abrahams who is intending to re-enact part of the incredible rescue mission led by Captain Matthew Flinders after the shipwrecks. Andrew holds the world record for the million metres row and in 2014 competed in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, described as the world’s ‘Toughest Row’ . Andrew rowed 3000 miles singlehandledly across the Atlantic from the Canary Islands to Antigua and has a serious passion for adventure.
MANY MORE SHIPWRECK STORIES TO COME! IF YOU HAVE AN INTERESTING SHIPWRECK STORY, PLEASE CONTACT THE BOATING DOWNUNDER TEAM VIA OUR CONTACTS PAGE AND WE WILL FOLLOW IT UP
