AZOV

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IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

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Name: AZOV (Also known as AZOF)
Type: Wooden Schooner
Built: 1866, J. Simpson, Wellington Square, Ontario (now Burlington)
Hull Dimensions:
- Length: 108 feet
- Beam: 24 feet
- Depth: 10 feet
- Gross Tonnage: 195 tons
Final Location: Lake Huron, approximately 15 miles off Pointe Aux Barques, Michigan
Status: Wrecked and broken apart on Belcher Reef, southwest of Port Elgin

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION: The AZOV was a wooden schooner, a type of sailing vessel commonly used in the Great Lakes during the 19th century. With its modest size and construction, the AZOV was well-suited for transporting goods across the lake, though it was vulnerable to the treacherous storms that frequently occurred.

HISTORY: The AZOV was built in 1866 by J. Simpson in Wellington Square, Ontario. Measuring 108 feet in length with a gross tonnage of 195 tons, the vessel was registered in Canada and operated primarily in the Great Lakes. The AZOV had a notable incident in July 1870 when it collided with the propeller ship BRISTOL and sank in Lake Ontario, but it was salvaged and returned to service.

The schooner had a long service life but ultimately met its fate on October 22, 1911, during a fierce storm on Lake Huron. While navigating approximately 15 miles off Pointe Aux Barques, Michigan, the AZOV sprang a leak, capsized, and foundered in the storm. Remarkably, all six crew members managed to escape in a boat and struggled across the lake to land near their homeport of Goderich.

Prior to its loss, the AZOV was loaded with deadheads (sunken logs) in Gore Bay, Manitoulin. As the storm intensified, the ship became waterlogged, leading to the crew’s decision to abandon it. The AZOV drifted northward and eventually broke apart on Belcher Reef, southwest of Port Elgin.

Captain John McDonald, who commanded the AZOV, was a seasoned mariner. His legacy is remembered in Maitland Cemetery, where his tombstone features the names of six ships, including the AZOV, carved around a likeness of his last command. The AZOV was notably the last schooner to be lost on the Saugeen coast.

FINAL DISPOSITION: The AZOV was abandoned by its crew during a storm in October 1911. The ship drifted and eventually broke apart on Belcher Reef. The wreckage was scattered, and the vessel was declared a total loss.

NOTMARs & ADVISORIES: There are no current Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) related to the wreck site of the AZOV. The site is considered to be of historical significance, with remnants potentially scattered in the area of Belcher Reef.

LOCATED BY & DATE: The wreckage of the AZOV drifted ashore on the Canadian side of Lake Huron several days after the incident, where it broke apart on Belcher Reef. The specific discovery date of the wreckage was shortly after the storm in October 1911.

RESOURCES & LINKS:

KEYWORDS: AZOV, Lake Huron shipwreck, schooner, 19th-century shipping, Great Lakes maritime history, John McDonald, Wellington Square, Belcher Reef

CONCLUSION: The story of the AZOV is one of resilience and survival amidst the treacherous conditions of the Great Lakes. While the schooner ultimately met its end during a fierce storm on Lake Huron, the crew’s successful escape and the ship’s legacy, especially through Captain John McDonald, continue to be remembered. The AZOV’s wreckage serves as a poignant reminder of the challenges faced by mariners navigating these vast and often unpredictable waters.