Dashing Wave

The remains of the Dashing Wave lay on a sandy bottom in 2 meters of water on a 0.3-meter tide at Shelter Point, South of Campbell River. Other than a few planks, little of the wooden structure remains. The remains of site include a large iron windlass, brass pins and fasteners, concreated iron and bits of anchor chain.

British Columbia's Heritage Conservation Act automatically protects all heritage wrecks, including the remains of all wrecked vessels and aircraft once two or more years have passed since the date of loss. It is illegal to damage, alter or remove a heritage object from a heritage wreck except under a permit issued by the Archaeology Branch.

Dashing Wave has historic value as an excellent example of the fast clipper ships that plied the world's oceans in the second half of the nineteenth-century. It operated as a commercial vessel for almost 67 years bridging the period from the height of sail into the steam era. During its' operating life, it supported the export of lumber from British Columbia to the world markets which helped drive the economic development of the coastal region.

Dashing Wave is valued as a fast ship for its time. It was a ship-rigged clipper ship, built in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and launched July 15, 1853. The ship was a medium clipper and measured 182 ft in length with a beam of 40 ft. Dashing Wave was so fast that in 1854 it ran from San Francisco to Calcutta in seventy-six days, beating even the fastest clippers by 11 days. On May 18, 1871 the Colonist recorded the Dashing Wave at Hasting Mill in Burrard Inlet loading lumber for Shanghai. The vessel had a top speed on 12 knots, which is thought to be a record for a sailing vessel at that time.

The years of fast open ocean sailing took their toll and sometime in 1901, after 48 years as a sailing vessel, it was converted into a barge and spent its remaining years hauling cargo around the Pacific North West. Loaded with cannery supplies, the Dashing Wave left Seattle under tow of the tugboat San Juan on March 14, 1920. The ship grounded on Shelter Point, South of Campbell River at 3:39 pm on March 16 while under tow. The entire crew safely made it to shore while the vessel remained in its final resting place.

The key elements that define the character of Dashing Wave include:

- remains of the wooden structure

- large iron windlass

- brass pins and fasteners

- concreated iron

- remnants of anchor chain