Rene of Nantes

Last Updated on Tuesday, 18 May 2010 16:30

1887 - The Rene of Nantes was a barque carrying 450 tons of coal.   She was headed for Arcachon and had laid up for the night at Nash Point, waiting for the ebb tide.   When she set off the next morning the weather deteriorated and she was driven on to the Helwick Bank.   Badly holed she was swept inshore and broke up on the rocks in Overton Mere.   Five of the crew struggled ashore but the Captain, two seamen and a fifteen-year-old boy lost their lives. (Ref. 036)