Wreck of the "Dunmail"

29th March 1911

A schooner rigged screw steamer the 966 ton Dunmail was built by SP Austin and Co. in 1884 and owned by the Sharp Steamship Co.of Newcastle. She was 216ft long with a 31ft beam.

Captain Hay was in command of the vessel, bound from Nordenhamn to Seaham in water ballast, when she grounded at 10:20pm a little futher north of where the "Knud" had gone ashore. The wind was ENE and the visability had turned from hazy to thick fog. The impact broke off her rudder and stempost. The hull was holed and as the tide turned she began to take on water.

Robin Hood's Bay was alerted by the continuous blowing of the whitle and the firing of rockets. It was low tide and the Lifeboat needed a long launch. It stood by until 2:45am when the Captain and crew of 15 were taken off. Due to the tide the Lifeboat had to lie in the Bay until 5:30am. There appeared little hope of salvage.