National Marine Sanctuaries

Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary

Shipwreck Database

Vessel
*Not A Total Loss

Star of the West
  
Name (former)
Official Number
Propulsion
 Sail
Nationality
 UK
Masts
  
Age
 5
Decks
  
Value
  
Type
 Schooner
Call Sign
  
Use
 Smuggler?
Home Port
 England, Weymouth
Tonnage (gross)
Built When
 1840
Tonnage (net)
Built Where
 England, Weymouth
Tonnage
134
Built by
  
Displacement
  
Hull Material
 Wood (sheathed with brass)
Length (ft)
Cargo
 Dry Goods (valued at 25,000-30,000 sterling)
Beam
Owner
 Ayles & Company
Depth of Hold
 
CASUALTY
   
Latitude
36°31N
Longitude
121°57W
WHERE
Point Lobos
STATE
CA
YEAR
1845
LAST PORT
UK, Liverpool
MONTH
07
DESTINATION
Mexico, Mazatlan
DAY
27
People on Board
TIME
FATALITIES
CAUSE
Becalmed
NATURE OF CASUALTY

The vessel becalmed just below Carmel Bay and drifted onto the rocks off Point Lobos.

Larkin described how the vessel looked the day after her wrecking when he sent three boats to the wreck site: "I found all her rigging whole & sail set, washing against the rocks which were very high. The whole deck was under water, the railing of the vessel and chains coverd with Callicoes of every colour... The wreckers continued several days at work bringing up goods 16 to 20 under the water..... I believe the vessel sunk immediately...... The spars & riggins came to pieces during the afternoon I was there...." (Larkin Papers III: 269)

(It is noted that in 1900 the broken ship's bell was found in a Point Lobos field and came into the hands of Louis Slevin, noted collector. SSM)