WRECKS STANLEY Falkland Islands



Stanley harbour is the greatest graveyard of 19th century sailing ships in the world. Here lie the remains of around 20 ships that, unable to survive the storms of Cape Horn, struggled back to the safety a sheltered harbour. Many did not make it, one can only guess at how many went down and lives were lost as any sea vessel that could float headed for the gold boom of Australia and California and came to grief rounding 'The Horn'. Others were repaired here to face the onward journey or were exploited by the thriving 'wrecking trade'. Many are known to have wrecked all around the Falklands coast. Stanley's wrecks were often condemned, the price of repairs too high so owners cut their losses and sold them where they stood. These are just a few that became well known in Stanley. The Fennia has now gone from the harbour. The Great Britain has been taken home to Bristol.