An elevated starboard bow view of the steel three-masted barque Gunvor (1895) aground on the rocks at Pedn Boar, Black Head, southwest of Coverack. The ship is listing to port and, being semi-submerged, has waves washing over the decks. The bowsprit is very close to the cliff-face. Most of the sails are still set, except for the fore- and mainmast top gallant and royals and the mizzen sails. Two rowing boats are off the starboard quarter. The foremast sails have been taken aback (wind filled the wrong side) as the wind has deflected off the cliff face back into the sails.

A glass copy negative from an original print.

The Gunvor (1895) was on passage from Caleta Buena, Chile for Falmouth with a cargo of nitrates, when she went ashore just before midnight on 5 April 1912. The ship was so close to the cliffs that the crew were able to lower a rope from the bowsprit and get onto the rocks. The cabin boy missed his hold and fell in but was rescued by the chief officer. The Times reported that all the nitrate dissolved and the empty bags were floating out of the ship [The Times, 11 April 1912, p.19]. The ship was reported to have broken its back late on Saturday 6 April 1921 [Western Daily Mercury, Monday 8 April 1912] and, by mid-day the same day, the main royal mast had snapped [Cornishman, Thursday 11 April 1912].