Careening Bay - Boab Tree history

 We had a long motor from the Prince Regent River to Careening Bay yesterday.  Careening Bay was mainly just an anchorage for overnight but the site had a large boab tree which had been inscribed with the ship name HMC Mermaid 1820.  The Mermaid had been beached at high tide and careened top repair her hull in 1820.  The Mermaid was built in India and launched December 23 1816 but unfortunately iron nails had been used in her construction and she was falling apart.  The crew repaired her on the beach before continuing to explore and map northwest Australia.

Carving of HMC Mermaid 1820 on Boab Tree

View of the old Boab Tree

Today we are continuing northeast to Prince Frederick Harbour and the Hunter River (not the famous Hunter River wine region).


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