Estramina

The Estramina , a schooner, was totally wrecked near Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia in 1816.

The Estramina was a Spanish schooner called the Extramena that had been in used in the colonial service of the Spanish marine department at Callao prior to its capture in October 1804.

The schooner had been built in Guayaquil, Upper Peru (now modern day Ecuador) in 1802, and displaced 120 tons. The Estremina was capable of carrying twelve guns, she was armed with only four four pound guns and was crewed with only 18 sailors when on 1 October 1804, just off the coast of Peru an American brig hove into view. The brig, Harrington under the command of Sydney master William Campbell attacked the Estremina and after an inconclusive exchange of cannon fire managed to drive the Estremina ashore where the ship, under the command of Don Antonio Jose del Campo, ordered that it be set on fire by the Spanish crew. The Australian colonist's boarded the ship, put out the fire and claimed the Estremina as a prize.

While Campbell and his prize ships Estramina, and San Francisco y Paula, were returning to the Australian coast they refreshed en route at the Tahitian Islands. It was here that Campbell learned that Britain and Spain were not at war, contrary to his earlier understanding.

As a consequence, he directed the San Francisco y Paula to voyage to the Bass Straits, between the Australian mainland and Tasmania. In the case of the Estramina he dispatched the vessel to Jervis Bay.

Campbell claimed that the Estremina was taken because England and Spain were at war, however when the Estremina was sailed into Sydney, the Governor, Philip Gidley King believed that Campbell was guilty of piracy. After considerable wrangling, Campbell was allowed to go and the Estremina was sold for £2,100 to the Colony of New South Wales. The ship was renamed the Estramina.

On 19 January 1816 and under the command of Joseph Ross the Estramina attempted to leave Newcastle harbour, but with the tide against the ship and a strong wind blowing, the anchor was lowered. Shortly after the anchor chain broke and the ship drifted ashore onto a sandbank where it quickly broke up. No crew were lost.