The Wawinet was a yacht built in 1904 and owned by Sir William Mackenzie before being later owned by Bertrand Corbeau of Penetanguishene, Ontario. It was constructed at the Polson Iron Works in Toronto and had a gross tonnage of 68. The yacht was powered by a screw propulsion system.
On September 21, 1942, a tragic accident occurred involving the Wawinet at Beausoleil Island in Georgian Bay, Ontario, Canada. That evening, Bertrand Corbeau, along with a group of fellow employees from the Midland Foundry and Machine Company, was onboard the yacht, returning home to Penetanguishene. Suddenly, the Wawinet made a sharp turn, causing it to heel and the lower windows to submerge underwater. In a mere two minutes, the yacht filled with water and sank.
There were a total of 42 passengers and crew members on board during the accident, but only 17 individuals survived. Unfortunately, Bertrand Corbeau did not survive the tragic incident. The sinking of the Wawinet at Beausoleil Island remains one of the most devastating accidents to have occurred in Georgian Bay’s history.
