Hike to Bos 400 wreck

Above the carpark
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If you’re looking for a hike with variety and something for children, this is the one: a shipwreck, a rock scramble, fantastic views and not too long or strenuous.

In need of “mountain” with my hip getting no better, despite three weeks of “being good” and sticking to cycling, I thought that a walk to the Bos 400 wreck would be an easy, short, flattish walk. Richard and Kathryn Lowndes joined me, along with neighbour Eve.

Helicopter pad still used for landings

On the way down to Oude Skip
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We made for the crossroads at the bottom of Suikerbossie and took the right turn into Helgarda Road, then the 2^nd road left into Edgar Road. Following this road to the boom and parking area. Passing the boom we continued uphill to the lookout above Sandy Bay and turned left to walk to the end of the road. A few years ago hang gliders used to take-off from a point halfway along this road. I was one of them and the first woman to fly naked! From here it looks like it isn’t far to the wreck but it’s not as close as it looks and there are a few obstacles along the way.

Easter Island type rocks
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We headed down the gabion steps to an old rocket station before going left and following the path running parallel to the sea. At the fork we turned left and descended quite far, but not as far as the sea, while looking for a path to the left. We followed this to where it became more clear, although in places it was overgrown with offshoots, used by fishermen and Working for Water.

Just before the shipwreck there’s a short, easy scramble. It’s easier to go straight up the pitch where there are good handholds and granite grip rock.

Richard close to the wreck
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Along the path the vegetation is coastal fynbos with many succulent plants such as Cotyledon orbiculata Honde-oor, Euphorbia caput-medusae Vingerpoland the red Sutherlandia frutescens Cancer bush.

Reaching the wreck we clambered over granite outcrops to get a closer look at the barge. On The 26^th June 1994, the 13,610-ton French derrick barge Bos 400 was being towed from Point Noir in Congo to the dry dock in Table Bay by the Russian ship Tigr. But it wasn’t powerful enough to fight the wild Cape winter storms and at 10am, in driving rain and gusting winds, there was an enormous bang: “like the sound of a cannon being fired”, and the towline snapped.

The wreck will soon split apart (Richard)
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The barge was a mere 5km offshore from Sea Point when, in the teeth of the northerly gale, the Tigr managed to re-attach the line and pull the barge out to sea. Around 2pm both vessels started drifting down the coast towards Llandudno and it was hoped that the barge would miss the shore and reach the safety of open sea.

However, at 3.15pm, as both vessels drifted closer to the shore, the decision was made to abandon the barge and cut the towline. The Bos 400 hit Oude Schip Rock ten minutes later.

The helicopter pad - still used as a landing site (Richard)
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With waves smashing onto the deck and the boat madly rocking from side to side, the eighteen crewmen crawled along the deck two at a time clutching onto the cargo net. At 4pm the crew were hoisted on board the Court Helicopter. In the meantime the barge pivoted through 90 degrees as the NSRI vessel waited alongside in this dramatic rescue. Within minutes the barge drifted towards the shore and then crashed into the rocks.

Plans to re-float the barge were abandoned after a second storm caused further damage to the vessel and now it sits on the rocks, testament to the fury of the wild Cape Oceans.

No boarding!
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I hadn’t returned along the same path for many years and it was frustrating to once again lose the path within sight of the rocket station. We ended up at the rock band where we came across a bench in an alcove of rock, possibly built by alien hackers.

It was with great relief that we reached the road having avoided the rocket station.

The best time is October when you may see whales and the orchid, Satyrium carneum.