AH-WR-0489

Sweepstakes

Schooner · United States · Lost 1885 · Georgian Bay & the North Channel

A well-preserved 1867 schooner, damaged off Cove Island and deliberately allowed to sink in Big Tub Harbour, now one of Tobermory's most-visited wrecks.

Become Captain of Record See Shipwreck on Map

Artistic recreation based on recorded historical documents. See the documented evidence.

Historically Reconstructed. Drawn from partial documentation of this vessel together with her known class and configuration. See the documented evidence.

The Vessel and Her Loss

Built in 1867 at Burlington, Ontario, Sweepstakes carried coal and general cargo on the upper lakes. Damaged off Cove Island in August 1885, she was towed by the tug Jessie into Big Tub Harbour at Tobermory, but was found beyond economical repair and sank there in September 1885. Her hull remains remarkably intact in shallow, clear water, making her one of the most visited wrecks in Fathom Five National Marine Park.

Vessel

Built: 1867
Builder: Melancthon Simpson
Yard: Burlington, Ontario
Material: Wood
Length: 119 ft
Beam: 23 ft
Tonnage: 218
Propulsion: Sail, two masts
Owners: George Stewart, Mooretown, Ontario (at loss)

Loss

Date: September 1, 1885
Cause: Mechanical failure
Location: Big Tub Harbour, Tobermory, Georgian Bay
Water: Lake Huron (Georgian Bay)
Voyage: Not established
Cargo: Coal (salvaged after sinking)
Aboard: Not established
Lives lost: 0
Master: Not established

The Wreck Today

Depth: 20 ft
Condition: Hull remains largely intact; a small portion of the stern deck has collapsed.
Orientation: Not established
Discovered: Not established
Protection: Within Fathom Five National Marine Park