Beachcombers find capstan after 115 years

Two men beachcombing at the mouth of Youghal harbour have recovered a capstan believed to be from a merchant ship that sank in the east Cork bay over 115 years ago.

Local fisherman Barry Clohessy and his friend Denis McCarthy were walking on Easter Point, a peninsular landmark on the Co Waterford side of the bay when they came across the relic.

It was found in low-tide directly across the river from Youghal lighthouse.

A capstan, which is also known as a windlass, was a circular fixture to which an anchor was attached by chain in the days of sailboats. Sailors inserted poles into apertures on the capstan and raised the anchor by turning the structure as they walked round it.

The capstan, weighing 149kg (308lbs) “was lodged between rocks,” explains Barry. “It was left exposed by a very low tide and had been stripped of weeds by recent storms.”

The men secured their find by rope before returning later by boat to tow it into Youghal harbour.

Local maritime historian Frankie Mills, assisted by the website irishwrecksonline.net, traced the capstan to the brigantine Nameless which sank on Feb 8, 1897.

She was owned by Youghal merchants RC Farrell and had left Cardiff with a cargo of coal and iron sheets for Youghal Brickwork factory.

Mr Mills said: “She weighed 152 tons, was 125 ft. long and probably sank in bad weather. The five man local crew were, I believe, skippered by a Captain O’Donovan. Thankfully all were rescued and the cargo was mostly recovered also.”

On landing the artefact, Barry and Dennis refused an immediate offer of €300 from a man wishing to deploy it as a garden ornament. It is now stored in Barry’s boatyard. The two men feel its proper place “is in a maritime museum”.