Wreck Summary
| Type |
Shipwreck |
| Build |
Wooden, three masted schooner |
| Location |
Long Point, Port Dover
|
| Depth |
120 feet |
| Length |
140 feet |
| Built |
|
| Sank |
1854 |
| Access |
Boat |
| Experience Level |
Advanced or Technical |
| Orientation |
Upright
|
The Trade Wind is a fascinating wreck. Her three masts lie on her port side, there is a square rigging platform in the middle of the fore-deck, much of her cargo is still there, and those are just the first things you notice about her. Take a closer look and you will find the location in her starboard side where it is reported the ship Charles Napier tried to mate with her, tearing a sizeable gash and sending the Trade Wind to the bottom otherwise unscathed but with the Napier’s bow sprit still penetrating her side (see top left photo).
Towards the rear is an amazing recessed wheel. Normally placed above deck, this one sits in a hole which must have afforded an awful view of things for docking etc. but was an escape from foul weather. One theory is that it allowed for the boom to be lower and sails to be larger - think "more horsepower". The forward decking is littered with what remains of 200 tons of steel railway line, and some of the 1,000 stoves she was carrying are visible in the hold.
Her stern, in pristine condition, is inspirational. Very squarish and quite large, the stern sits high enough out of the mud that you can see the considerable rudder.
It is possible to swim through an entrance at the front of the aft deck and exit at the wheel, but like many wrecks in Lake Erie this one is well filled with fine particulate so penetration would likely lead to greatly reduced visibility and everyone else visiting the wreck likely won’t appreciate the silt storm.
This wreck lies on the outside of the Point when dived from Port Dover, so prepare for a long ride out (up to three hours depending on the charter boat).
