Aboriginal group says washed-up Sydney to Hobart race yacht is now THEIRS because the remote island is indigenous land
- Aboriginal land council claim ownership of washed up Sydney-to-Hobart yacht
- Land Council says Indigenous laws of salvage should override European ones
- Salvage company says they asked Indigenous representatives for permission
A Sydney-to-Hobart racing yacht that was abandoned on a remote island off the coast of Tasmania has been salvaged over the objections of an Aboriginal group which claims it is now owned by Indigenous people.
The race entrant Huntress was recovered from a fierce surf break and towed away from Cape Barren, also known as Truwana, on Monday, weeks after it was abandoned and washed ashore due to a broken rudder.
But Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania chairman Michael Mansell told the ABC no permission was given to move the Huntress and that ‘any vessels wrecked… on the shores of Aboriginal land belong to Aborigines’.
The beached Sydney to Hobart yacht Huntress (pictured) has been claimed by traditional owners under Indigenous law
‘The Huntress has washed up on the shores of Aboriginal land on Cape Barren and that makes that vessel the property of Aboriginal people … that’s always the Aboriginal law,’ he told the national broadcaster.
‘From the time that the white people chased us off our land in Tasmania and put us on the islands, the old people always applied Aboriginal traditional law to anything that washed up on the shores of Aboriginal land.’
Mr Mansell said the Aboriginal right of salvage on the territory had been recognised since 1920 and cited a number of wrecked vessels that he said had passed into Aboriginal hands.
Land Council of Tasmania chairman Michael Mansell said that the boat’s ownership should either pass to the traditional owners or a third of the vessel’s value paid
Huntress owner Brent Dowton has been contacted for comment. In a Facebook past Mr Dowton thanked Total Dive Solutions and sub-contractor Total Marine Solutions for the salvaging the vessel.
‘We will be working with our insurer to plan Huntress’s repairs in restoring her to her former glory,’ the message said.
‘This may take several months to complete but we cannot wait to get started!’
Mr Mansell (pictured left) says that the Aboriginal laws of salvage have been operating on Cape Barren Island since 1820
In a separate Facebook post, Total Dive Solutions gave ‘special’ thanks to ‘the Cape Barren Island Indigenous community representatives for their permission and local site knowledge’.
Under the common law of salvage a wrecked vessel still belongs to the owners but salvors may, under certain circumstances, claim a reward.
After leaving Sydney on December 26 the Huntress lost its rudder on December 28, causing the crew to abandon ship.
The vessel was spotted drifting by a cruise ship on January 2 and was reported as a potential hazard to shipping before landing on Cape Barren Island on January 4.
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