On May 21, 1880, the ketch was picked up, bottom upwards, at the entrance to Bluff Harbour. The previous night was exceptionally stormy, and the ketch was last seen close to Ruapuke Island, at dusk. The Anna was bound for Riverton, and was evidently endeavouring to return to Bluff for shelter, when she capsized, her crew of three being drowned. The ketch was under the command of Captain Stephen Tall, who was one of the best known coastal navigators in Otago. The Anna, No. 61,026, was a ketch of 27 tons register, built at Catlins River in 1875, by Messrs, W. McPhee and Phillips, and her dimensions were : length 55.7 ft, beam 15.4 ft, depth 5.9 ft. The ketch was recovered and refitted.
Back to Bluff Shipwrecks Page.
