Maritime record MHG50040 - Catherine: Dunnet Sands, Dunnet Bay, Pentland Firth

NMRS Report: (07/05/2007 11:50:40)
ND26NW 8016 c. 21 69
N58 36 W3 22

NLO: Dunnet Head [name: ND 203 768]
Dunnet Bay [name centred ND 198 704]
Pentland Firth [name centred ND 35 81].

Possibly on map sheets ND17NE or ND27SW.

Thurso, ---. [recd., 21st, per E.T. at 9.45]. The CATHERINE, of Aberystwith, Hodges, from Runcorn to Charlestown, has been stranded on Dunnet Sands, and is full of water, with her keel broken: cargo (salt) lost.
Source: The Marine List, LL, No. 14,185, London, Wednesday September 21 [1859].
NMRS, MS/829/72 (no. 9732).

The location assigned to this record is essentially tentative. Dunnet Sands are not noted as such on the 1999 edition of the OS 1:50,000 map, but the name may be taken to apply to the extensive sands that extend from ND 216 709 to ND 204 683, around the SE side of Dunnet Bay.
The loss of this vessel is not cited by I G Whittaker (1998), possibly suggesting her successful recovery, although the reported breaking of her 'keel' (back) makes this appear improbable.
Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 16 November 2006.