‘All of a sudden we lost steering’: Owner details heart wrenching moment her historic ship sunk

A couple sailing their historic 20 metre 1958 Pilot Cutter struck danger in the D’Entrecasteaux Channel south of Woodbridge, igniting a rescue as the ship sunk. What the owner said:

On her way to her second ever Australian Wooden Boat Festival the lovingly restored 1958 MV Goondooloo suddenly lost steering and was under water less than half an hour later.

Owner Deb Ludeke said the two crew on board were safe, but in shock.

After lovingly restoring the boat for the past five years Ms Ludeke could not watch the moment the historic boat went under.

Police Vessel Vigilant with Police Divers over sunk vessel – MV Goondooloo. Picture: Tasmania Police

Historic ship MV Goondooloo sinks in the D'Entrecasteaux Channel. Picture: Tasmania Police

“Craig [Bellgrove] said don’t turn around because he knew I’d be hysterical, and I was, and she went under,” she said.

Ms Ludeke said the boat was chugging along at 8.5 knots when she posted a video to Facebook showing the engine running “perfectly”.

“We were really happy and looking forward to meeting her sistership that’s down from Sydney and then all of a sudden we lost steering,” she said.

“I stepped into the engine room and I would have been knee deep in water.”

MV Goondooloo owner Deb Ludeke. Her historic ship sunk in the D'Entrecasteaux Channel. Picture: Facebook

Craig Bellgrove with wooden boat Goondooloo when he salvaged it from the Tamar River to be restored in Hobart in December 2022. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Wooden boat Goondooloo sunk in D’Entrecasteaux Channel. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Ms Ludeke said the water was “gushing” in and was more than bilges could handle so they cut power and called the police on the phone and the marine radio who arrived in 5-10 minutes.

The police got on board and after assessing the situation they told the crew to get off.

“That was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do,” Ms Ludeke said.

“She went down about ten minutes later.”

The Australian Wooden Boat Festival spokesperson said with respect to the privacy of the boat owner, they wouldn’t comment this morning on the incident.

More to come

Wooden boat Goondooloo when first launched in 1958 at Goat Island. Picture: supplied

Historic ship MV Goondooloo sinks in the D'Entrecasteaux Channel. Picture: Tasmania Police