Thunderbolt Reef

Thunderbolt Reef lies around 400 metres off of Cape Recife.

In February 1847 the steam warship, Thunderbolt, left Simonstown for Algoa Bay with orders to pick up a detachment of the 90th Regiment who were waiting there. The Seventh Kafir War (The war lasted over 12 months from April 1846 to May 1847) was raging and the Thundrebolt was transporting troops and stores.

Her skipper, Commander Boyle, thought he was fairly well acquainted with the coast, having rounded the Cape on seven (7) previous occasions. As Boyle swung the Thunderbolt around Cape Receife the soldiers from the 90th could see the ship from their vantage point on the Donkin in Elizabeth Town. She was scheduled to take them back to Cape Town and home to England. Suddenly, in relatively calm water she struck a hidden reef whose presence was not indicated by waves breaking over it.

Guns of distress were immediately fired. Water was soon up to the engine room. The Thunderbolt was successfully got off the rocks and, although badly holed, was eventually beached at the mouth of the Baakens River.

It was discovered that the ship was too badly damaged to be repaired and condemned by the naval authorities in Simonstown. At auction the ship did not fetch one bid. Eventually John Owen Smith bought her for one hundred and one (101) pounds.