Mostly buried under the sand of Booby’s Bay are the wonderful remains of the SV Carl shipwreck.
This ship started out its life before 1914, at which point it was at Cardiff docks. In October 1917 it was being towed to London for scrap when it broke free during a storm; it quickly ran aground on a reef off the coast and despite attempts to refloat her, she broke free again and headed further inland. One more time they tried to tow her out to sea, this time by the Admiralty. Again this failed and the Carl was in turn too badly damaged to move again.
Salvage attempts began that same year, but it was soon covered in a thick layer of sand, preventing their efforts. It remained mostly buried until 2014 when large storms stripped the sand back, reviewing the wonderful carcass of the ship.
The SV Carl was first launched in 1893 from Maryport by Ribson & Co, registering in Hamburg. It was during the outbreak of war in 1914 that she was impounded at Cardiff after being suspected of working for the German’s, laying mines.
Outlines of the ship can clearly be seen on the left side of the small beach, although how much is visible depends on how much sand is covering it.
There is a large carpark at Trevose Head, or you can risk your wingmirrors parking alongside the road outside the golf course.
CARL FULLY RIGGED SHIP 1893-1917 (2021). Available at: https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?129390&fbclid=IwAR18dhVQZ3p7uQXGid0mwrxQV77iV0CpZsAAVS_fqrxrOVjcyis22BAdQ9U (Accessed: 30 January 2021).
iwalkcornwall (2021) Trevose Head circular walk. Available at: https://www.iwalkcornwall.co.uk/walk/trevose_head (Accessed: 30 January 2021).
The Wreck of the SV. Carl at Booby’s Bay (2014) Submerged. Available at: https://www.submerged.co.uk/wreck-sv-carl-boobys-bay/ (Accessed: 30 January 2021).