Archaeological remains associated with the loss of this vessel are not confirmed as present at this location, but may be in the vicinity.

Event and Historical Information:
The RAGNA was a wooden barque built as the HILDA for or by Jeffrey McColl a merchant of New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, in 1878. Technical and configuration specifications are given as 718gt, 656nt; 161ft 8in x 34ft 6in x 18ft 1in; sheathed in felt and yellow metal; 3 masts. The vessel had been sold at Glasgow to Norwegian owners in 1891. At which time it is likely that its name was changed. At time of loss on 28 December 1900, the vessel was owned by J C Svendsen of Chritiansand and registered at that port. The barque was carrying coal/coke from Cardiff to Bahia under the command of J H Zopfl when it was caught by a northwesterly force 10 gale. The barque anchored off Aberfelin, north of Saint David's Head, but as the wind increased the anchors began to drag towards the shore and went aground on the rocks. Ropes were passed to the wreck from the shore by which means some of the crew escaped, others jumped overboard and struggled to the beach. One man was struck by the mainmast when it collapsed and was killed instantly. The bodies of three crewmen are buried in the cemetery at Llanrian.

Sources include:

Board of Trade Wreck Return 1900, Appendix C, Table 1, p.13 (779)
Evening Express, 31 December 1900, p.2
Larn and Larn Shipwreck Database 2002
Lloyd's Register Casualty Returns, 1 October - 31 December 1900, p.11 (h)
Lloyd's Register of British and Foreign Shipping, 1 July 1899 - 30 June 1900, number 42 in R
Memorial University of New Foundland, 1998, Ships and Seafarers of Atlantic Canada, CD ROM

Maritime Officer, RCAHMW, June 2010.

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