Aboriginal Land Council claim ownership of washed up Sydney to Hobart yacht

A damaged Sydney to Hobart yacht found washed up on a Tasmanian beach now belongs to the local Indigenous community, according to the Aboriginal Land Council.

A Sydney to Hobart yacht discovered washed up on a Tasmanian beach now belongs to the local Indigenous community, the Aboriginal Land Council has claimed.

Yacht Huntress was found washed ashore on Cape Barren Island last week after it was damaged and its crew was forced to abandon ship during the Sydney to Hobart yacht race.

Owners and an insurance crew have been trying to remove the Huntress, which is believed to be intact after aerial photographs depicted the boat laying on its side at Christmas Beach.

Tasmanian-owned yacht, the Huntress, washed up on Cape Barren Island on January 4 after being adrift at sea for several days when it was damaged during the 2022 Sydney to Hobart yacht race. Pic was taken January 5. Picture; Aboriginal Land Council Tasmania.

Tasmanian-owned yacht, the Huntress, washed up on Cape Barren Island on January 4 after being adrift at sea for several days when it was damaged during the 2022 Sydney to Hobart yacht race. Pic was taken January 5. Picture; Aboriginal Land Council Tasmania.

Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania (ALCT) Chairman Michael Mansell said the yacht cannot be salvaged by the insurance company because “any vessels wrecked or washed up on the shores of Aboriginal land belongs to Aborigines”.

“Permission is not given for the insurers to move the vessel Huntress until one third of its value is paid or the owners agree that Aborigines own the vessel,” Mr Mansell said.

“When our people were slaughtered and driven from our traditional lands on Lutruwita/Tasmania, we were forced to reorganise on Cape Barren/Truwuna. From that day onwards the Elders applied Aboriginal law to any ship wrecks or abandoned vessels that washed up on our shores.

Michael Mansell, Chairman of the Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania. Photo: Peter Mathew

“Aboriginals such as Ned Tomlins was born at Cape Barren in 1813, and he and the elders such as George Everett, Jack Maynard, Tom Mansell and Harry Beeton made sure the Aboriginal salvage laws were properly applied for the benefit of Aboriginal people.

“The white man’s salvage laws do not apply because this is sovereign Aboriginal territory and our laws override those of the white man.”

Tasmanian-owned yacht, the Huntress, washed up on Cape Barren Island on January 4 after being adrift at sea for several days when it was damaged during the 2022 Sydney to Hobart yacht race. Pic was taken January 5. Picture; Aboriginal Land Council Tasmania.

Mr Mansell said many washed up boats have fallen under this law over the last two centuries, including the Apparition in 1840, Antares in 1853, Idle Hour in 1930, and Cambridgeshire in 1875, which had general cargo on-board valued at £52,000.

Members of the ALCT flew over the beach on Thursday to assess the yacht and its location.

It comes as a spokeswoman for the Huntress confirmed the yacht had been successfully removed from the beach on Monday.