Above ... The Optima (Copyright unknown)

Research and identification ... Paul Hennessey Norfolk Wreck Research (August 2023)

Photography ... Paul Hennessey Norfolk Wreck Research and Roger Smith (Anglian Divers)

Team members ... Paul Hennessey (NWR) / Roger Smith, Leigh Reeves, Peter Huson, Waldemar Bartosik, Simon Phelan, Mike Thomas and surface support Tony Holmes (Anglian Divers)

SV OPTIMA

Position ... WGS84   52 54 925 N / 001 43 864 E (Haisborough Sands)

Type ... Barque, x 4 masts (Cargo vessel)

Built ... 1892

Builder ... J.C. Tecklenborg, Geestmunde, Germany

Dimensions ... 95 x 13.3 x 7.8mtrs

Construction ... Steel

Poop ... 24 feet

Forecastle ... 34 feet

Tonnage ... Gross 2845

Lost ... 18th January 1905

Cause ... Grounded (Haisborough Sands)

Voyage ... Hamburg to Santa Rosalia

Cargo ... Coal, coke and patent fuel

Casualties ... None

Depth ... 16mtrs max

Team members ... Paul Hennessey (NWR) and Anglian Divers members  Roger Smith, Mike Thomas, Peter Huson, Simon Phelan, Waldi Bartosik and Leigh Reeves . Surface support Tony Holmes

Of note ...  At the time of writing (2023) there are publications that offer an alternative position for the Optima, these being about half a mile away from the position at the head of this page. Please consider these to be incorrect and the position at the head of this page to be the correct position for the Optima.

History ... Built as the Placilla in 1892 for Ferdinand Laeisz & Co of Hamburg. In 1901 the Placilla was sold to Rhederel Actien - Gesellschaft  Von 1896 of Hamburg. In 1903 and whilst still under the ownership of Rhederel Actien the Placilla received a change in name to that of the Optima. The following year the Opima stranded on Haisborough Sands and became a total loss.

Of note (Record breaker) ... On the Placilla's maiden voyage from the Lizard, England to Valparaiso, Chili under the command of Captain Robert Hilgenorf the Placilla made the crossing in a record breaking 58 days!

Below ... Pulley block (Paul Hennessey)

Loss and Rescue ... On the 18th January 1905 whilst en route from Hamburg to Santa Rosalia under the command of Captain Butz with a cargo of Coal, coke and patent fuel the four masted Barque Optima stranded on Haisborough Sands. The incident had been seen by one of the light vessels marking the sands which in turn raised the alarm via gun fire and rockets.  With the weather increasing from the NE the crew were all taken off the Optima by the attending lifeboats from Gorleston for their own safety. On the morning of the 21st (approx 5am) and with the weather/ wind now having subsided a party of men were put back on the vessel and proceeded to jettison as much of the Optima's cargo as possible with the hope of lightening her load in order to tow her off the sand bank. Sadly the Optima was stuck fast and refused to budge.  With the weather now starting to  deteriorate waves started washing over the vessel. At 5pm (approx) the Opima broke her back and swung around. All of the men on board who had been working to free the vessel were safely taken off and taken to Yarmouth. Conditions at the time of the Optima's loss are described as dense fog and a heavy sea. In addition it is reported that when entering the English Channel the Optima was caught in a storm that took her off course and in turn brought her close to the Norfolk coast.

Below ... Patent fuel blocks revealed from beneath the sand. Patent fuel is made from fine crushed coal and a binding agent such as pitch. The blocks are formed via the use of a press in order to give them their chosen shape. (Paul Hennessey)

Below ... Coal covered in growth (Roger Smith)

Identification ... In July of 2023 Paul Hennessey of Norfolk Wreck Research located and identified the Iron built Barque North Wales on Haisborough Sands. During the research conducted in identifying the newly discovered wreck that later became known as the North Wales several other candidates came to light. The short list consisted of three other vessels excluding the North Wales, these being the Tay, Alf and Optima. All these vessels were of metal construction and had stranded on the Haisborough Sands. Excluding the now identified North Wales none of the other vessels had to date been identified. In 2019 whilst researching the WW2 stranding of vessels from convoy FS- 559 on Haisborough Sands the cargo ship SS Aberhill (Convoy Fs - 559) is charted as being at the above position. Further research revealed this could not possibly be the site of the Aberhill as research by NWR had revealed the site of the Aberhill to be further to the west. Further research revealed that the site of the misidentified Aberhill was dived in 2015 and showed itself to be that of a large unknown sailing ship of metal construction. With this in mind Paul Hennessey (NWR) and members of Anglian Divers (BSAC branch EAB11) on the 22nd August 2023 dived the site listed at the head of this page. The site showed itself, as reported in 2015 to be that of a very large sailing vessel of metal construction. As stated earlier there are now only three large sailing vessels of metal construction unaccounted for that were lost on the sands, ie the Tay, Alf and Optima. On site there were large amounts of coal throughout the entire area, in places there were walls of coal up against the inner hull, this now all being concreted together with marine growth. Out of the three remaining unidentified/ unaccounted for vessels the Optima was the only vessel carrying coal apart for the North Wales.. In addition a further dive on the site on the 29th August 2023 revealed further evidence of the site being that of the Optima, this taking the form of blocks a patent fuel as carried at the time of the Optima's loss. The blocks of patent fuel are slightly larger than a house brick.  It can now be concluded that the wreck listed at the position at the head of this page is that of the sailing vessel Optima.

Below ... Patent fuel block covered in growth (Paul Hennessey)

The Optima today (2023) ...

Dive 1 (22nd August 2023) ... Large section of hull standing 6mtrs proud of the seabed, length 20mtrs approx. This section is the highest section of the wreck and the most in tact. This area can be considered as one of the holds due to the fact the entire area is littered with coal. Within this area are several sections of a mast that has now collapsed and broken apart.

Dive 2 (29th August 2023) ... For the most part the rest of the site is no more than 2-3mtrs at its highest. As with dive one, there are masts to be seen plus associated winches. There are large areas of Teak decking still to be seen, this being in remarkably good condition considering it has been on the seabed for just short of 120 years.

All in all the Optima makes for a great dive, and at only 16mtrs there is plenty of time to take in all that this once magnificent vessel has to offer.

Below ... Porthole (Recovered by Leigh Reeves 2023) Reported to the Receiver of Wreck (ROW) 2023) (Paul Hennessey)

Below ... Looking inside one of the masts (Paul Hennessey)

Below ... Part of winch (Paul Hennessey)