Roystons Ghost Ships

Vancouver Islands Historic Hulk Breakwater

Royston Shipwrecks, Vancouver Island -  ©Dylan Phillips Photography

It’s not very often that we get the chance to see shipwrecks without diving. Something I’ve wanted to do since I was a kid is to get my SCUBA certification and hunt for treasure in lost ship wrecks. There’s always been a financial barrier for me but I still hope that one day I can get around to that. Until then, I’ll settle for the above water shipwrecks. Fortunately for me, there’s some just over an hour up the road…

In the early twentieth century the Canadian Western Lumber Company was in need of a suitable location to set up a log dump. Thousands of massive old growth trees were felled and would need to be hauled by rail to the sea where they could be sorted and towed to the mainland. Initially the logs were being dumped into the Puntledge River near present day Lewis Park, but this location proved to be problematic. Logs jammed up frequently in the narrow river before they could reach Comox Bay. The company chose to build a new line of railroad to nearby Royston and operate their log sort there.

The decision to make Royston the site of the new log sort wasn’t entirely well thought out. Low tides and south easterly winds made operations difficult. Committed to their decision, the lumber company decided to build a breakwater.

Their initial efforts to manage the large swells were futile. When 60 meter booms and old donkey engine sleds didn’t do the trick, the company decided to try something different. The first “Hulk” - The Schooner Laurel Whalen was scuttled in place on August 20 1936. Over the next 25 years, the company would add another 14 vessels to the collection.

The Royston breakwater served its purpose until 1978. After decades of salt water and harsh weather, only a few of the 15 hulks laid to rest here are visible from the shore.

Walking the Royston Seaside Trail, Vancouver Island - ©Dylan Phillips Photography

I first had the idea to photograph the Royston Wrecks shortly after getting my Transport Canada Advanced Drone Operator license. Given the close proximity to CFB Comox, I was sure there would be some airspace regulations in place. I used my newly acquired knowledge to file a flight plan and obtain airspace permission for my flight. This was the first time that I got to see the wrecks from an aerial perspective. The birds eye view allowed me to see through the water to the skeletal remains of the oldest of the scuttled ships.

Aerial drone photo of the Royston Wrecks, Vancouver Island - ©Dylan Phillips Photography

It felt like a brilliant idea to use the drone to photograph these wrecks. My only regret was that it was a gloomy December day and the light was far from interesting. I was disappointed with the pictures and made a mental plan to return in the summer time. Leaving Royston and driving through Courtenay into Comox, I eventually found myself at a great book store on the main street. At Blue Heron Books, I immediately locked on to the cover of a book titled The Ghost Ships of Royston. Local Author Rick James (Not that Rick James…) had detailed the story of the Royston Wrecks on behalf of the Underwater Archaeological Society of British Columbia (UASBC). The decision to purchase the book was easy. Not only could I unravel the mystery of these fabulous shipwrecks, but I had now been turned on to the UASBC. If I ever do get my SCUBA, I might like to participate in one of their underwater surveys.

Months passed and many more flight plans were filed as I racked up hours as an Advanced Certified pilot. By June I had found my way back up to the Comox Valley on a kind of “photo expedition”. My first stop on the journey was the Royston Wrecks. I arrived around dinner time and waited patiently for that “Golden Hour” light. Fingers crossed for a magnificent sunset, I filed a new flight plan and took off for the wrecks. I’ll forever be grateful for the paddle boarders for lending such nice scale to my photos. I was much happier with these shots but as I often am, I was still not satisfied. I spent the night in the area and made a second attempt in the morning.

Paddle boarders exploring the Royston Wrecks, Vancouver Island - ©Dylan Phillips Photography

This proved to be one of my better ideas. I woke up close to the wrecks and put my drone up before I could even get a pot of coffee made. The Bow of the Riversdale, A steel sailing ship, was lousy with Great Blue Herons. The mudflats and still waters of the Comox Harbour make for a rich ecosystem that draws in many varieties of hungry shore birds. Feeling more satisfied with my photos, I landed the drone and went through my morning camping routine - A cup of strong black coffee.

A Great Blue Heron perched on the bow of the Riversdale, Vancouver Island - ©Dylan Phillips Photography

Canvas and Art Prints of this photo are available to purchase on my website

Armed with my new book, I’ve been able to identify some of the ships in my photos. From what I can tell, Three of the 15 vessels that lay here are still visible above the water. The above photograph shows the bow of the steel sailing ship Riversdale. Behind it is the separated stern and bow of the iron sailing ship Melanope, and to the right of that is the bow and stern of the steel barque Comet. The below image details some of the underwater vessels by name.

Five of the Hulks wrecked at Royston, Vancouver Island - ©Dylan Phillips Photography 

Rick James’ book The Ghost Ships of Royston goes into great detail on the story of each of these ships. Even the first vessel scuttled here - The Laurel Whalen - Seemed destined for disaster from the beginning. I highly recommend picking up a copy of the book as well as looking into the Underwater Archaeological Society of British Columbia. Royston is a great place to visit for an afternoon. Grab a coffee at the Royston Roasting Co. and view the hulks while walking the Royston Seaside Trail. If you have a story about the Royston Wrecks, share it with me in the comments section below!

Thanks for reading!