This is a grassy part in Helensburgh with the grand title "East Esplanade"
Looking across the river Clyde, you can see Greenock, with Port Glasgow to its left and Gourock to the right.
You might wonder what that black bulky “thing” in the middle of the river is. It’s the remains of the MV Captayannis, locally known as the “Sugar Ship”.
In January 1974, the Greek MV Captayannis was carrying a cargo of sugar from Portuguese East Africa. It was anchored, waiting for high tide to offload at the James Watt Dock sugar terminal in Greenock.
When severe gale force winds hit the west coast, captain Theodorakis Ionnis tried to make it for the more sheltered waters of the Gare Loch. But before the Captayannis could power-up, the wind blew her towards an anchored BP tanker 8 times its size. The tanker’s anchor chain ripped through the hull of the Sugar Ship. All 55 people on board were rescued. As for the cargo – well, it dissolved in the water like sugar in your tea.
More about the Sugar Ship and some pictures can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Captayannis
Lets get back to dry land now, the East Esplanade and the cache. There is a display of the flywheel of the “Comet”, Henry Bell’s pioneering paddle steamer. Henry Bell (7 April, 1767 – 14 March, 1830) was the town’s first provost. More about him and his achievements can be read on the display by the flywheel. We’ve placed this cache on the anniversary of his death. Henry Bell is commemorated by an impressive granite needle on Helensburgh’s promenade (West Clyde Street).
Parking available very close by in one of the side streets. Bring your own pen. Please do not use stickers or stamps.