IN A BLUE WORLD of sea and sky the British freighter Wychwood churned a wake down the

middle of the Atlantic, 13 miles west of the island of Bermuda. Table-smooth water curled white as

her bow sliced southward, circling to avoid Hurricane Connie.

On a settee in the Officers Mess the Chief Steward waited to serve afternoon tea. Droning engines

encouraged him to doze until the settee shook and he bounced around like a doll in a box. With her

engines racing full ahead, the freighter ground to a halt.

"The Wychwood stranded on a coral reef at 3:17 p.m. on Thursday 11 August 1955," reported The Royal Gazette in

Hamilton, Bermuda. "After sliding onto the ledge," it quoted the Chief Steward, "our ship swung around on it. Captain

Thomas called all hands to emergency stations, and ordered the engines 'full astern.' Our propellers spun but the ship would

not budge."

From an antenna high on her mast a message went out. Wychwood requested a tug to pull her from the reef and a pilot

to guide her into St. George's harbor for repairs.Location: BermudaDepth: Method: Type: WreckBest Time: Terrain: Conditions: Experience Level: Marine Life: Marine Management: