An author and an adventurer are teaming up in Queenstown this weekend to navigate the myths and legends of one of the world’s most elusive shipwrecks.
The General Grant crashed into the cliffs of the Auckland Islands in 1866 and sank with at least 73kg of gold on board, with just 15 of the 83 crew and passengers able to make it to land, where they lived as castaways.
Five died or disappeared at sea, while it took another 18 months for the final 10 survivors to be rescued.
Sparse accounts of the survivors’ time scraping to stay alive on the wet, cold and inhospitable islands have left rich room for Hawke’s Bay
author Cristina Sanders to imagine their story from the point of view of the sole female survivor.
Sanders will discuss her book, Mrs Jewell and the Wreck of the General Grant, shortlisted for the 2023 Ockham Prize for Fiction, with Wānaka adventurer Bill Day during Queenstown Writers Festival, at Te Atamira, being held this weekend.
Day, who’s also the owner of Seaworks and a serial entrepreneur, has mounted five expeditions to find the General Grant, initially driven to find the gold.
But he was compelled to continue, at a cost of millions, to solve the riddle of the ship’s whereabouts.
To date, there have been more than 30 attempts mounted to find the shipwreck, including attempts by the survivors.
Day’s most recent attempt was last year — before he left he quipped he knew more than anyone on the planet about the places where the General Grant was not.
The ship was travelling to the United Kingdom from the Melbourne goldfields — it’s generally assumed much more gold was hidden on board by passengers and crew than was officially registered.
For her part, Sanders, a trail runner, sailor, whitewater rafter, photographer and traveller who grew up in a bookshop, enjoys the mystery.
‘‘Were the survivors lying [about where the boat’s position]?
‘‘And did they have a plan?
‘‘Or was it remembered in correctly?
‘‘From a historical research point of view, it’s thrilling.’’
Cristina Sanders in conversation with Bill Day, Saturday, 2pm, at Te Atamira — tickets, $24, via qtwritersfestival.nz
