The Racehorse
The Racehorse was a Royal Navy 18 gun brig, launched in 1806 and of 385 tons burthen. She left Milford Haven on 14th December 1822 to pick up the crew of the cutter Vigilante, which had been badly damaged on Conister Rock on the 6th of October, from Douglas.
At 5pm the pilot observed the Calf Lights, followed by a second light he assumed was Douglas pier head. Orders were given to haul windward and reef the topsails. Before the command could be carried out she struck a rock at Langness point. Dark, cloudy and with a high sea running the Racehorse was battered against the rocks. An attempt was made to get the ship clear using a stream anchor carried out by the cutter, but the breakers defeated them. The commander and officers deduced that she was badly holed and beyond salvation.
The cutter and galley were loaded with men and sent to seek land and help. The galley reached land at 11.30pm and the cutter at 1.00am - they proceeded to Castletown to raise the alarm. The rising tide and heavy seas continued to pound over and upon the Racehorse, making her unsalvagable.
Five boats were launched, but only one proved able to cope with the heavy seas. This boat made several trips rescueing the entire crew until the last trip where she was swamped resulting in the deaths of three local and three members of the crew.
This area is designated as a protected area and no diving is permitted except by the members of the Isle of Man Sub-Aqua Club who own and preserve this site. Many atrifacts have been removed and preserved at the Manx Museum.
