Irene (1926/04/12)

3 to 4 miles N Green Island 0.5 miles S Edward Is 182 off shore

Irene was a double-ended, clinker built fishing boat with a whaleback decking covering three-quarters of the deck area. The owner was James Mackey. It had sand ballast, a 3 m dinghy on deck, two weeks of provisions and was well fitted out. The Irene left Fremantle on 1 April 1926 with Mackey and one crewman on board. They anchored overnight at Ledge Point, and later anchored for three days at Wedge Island because of bad weather from the north. When the wind changed to southerly the Irene left that anchorage and found shelter at Green Island. Here it was sheltered from winds from the south-east to the south-west. The vessel was forced to remain there for six days.
THE LOSS
When the weather improved Mackey decided to sail the Irene to Jurien Bay. After they got underway and were about 3 or 4 miles north of Green Island the rudder carried away, wrenching off the bottom gudgeon. This was near the outer reef, with another reef further offshore on their lee. The jib was hoisted and, using a dinghy paddle to steer, the vessel was taken through an opening in the reef and anchored 180 m off the mainland shore. Breakers were washing over the Irene, and several times swamped the dinghy they were trying to launch. Some food, matches, the compass and barometer were put into the dinghy, and Mackey went ashore with the crewman on board the Irene paying out a line made from running rigging stripped from the fishing boat. When Mackey was safely ashore the crewman pulled the dinghy back, and he himself then made the shore. By that time the Irene was awash and being pounded by the waves. The two left the beach at about 5.00 p.m. and walked east for 15 km before coming across a road. They travelled north towards Jurien Bay through the night, and the next day were assisted by people from a camp they came across.
INITIAL SALVAGE
Six days later in the Fisheries Department launch Kooruldhoo, Mackey and his crewman returned to the wreck site. They found the shore littered with wreckage but nothing could be salvaged from the Irene.