Lost 1924 - Steel cargo steamer
According to the Bermuda 100 project and the Bergs' 1991 guide, this ship was built in Glasgow in 1919 by Alexander Stephen & Sons as the War Gascon, one of Britain's standard wartime cargo ships, first fitted out as a tanker and later converted to dry cargo. In 1921 she was sold to Parodi & Accame of Genoa, who renamed her Rita Zovetto.
In February 1924, under Captain Fortunat de Gregori, a holder of the Distinguished Service Medal from the Italian Navy in the war, she was carrying 7,373 tons of manganese ore from Poti on the Black Sea to Baltimore, and called at Bermuda for coal with a crew of 37. Contrary to later stories of heavy weather, the night was 'fine and clear, with a young moon'. St. David's light had been sighted at 9.30 p.m., and the pilot, R. M. 'Reggie' Roberts, burned signal lights to guide her in - had she altered course she would have reached Five Fathom Hole. The captain, believing he was safe, ignored them, and just after midnight on the night of 11-12 February she stranded off the south side of St. David's Head. No lives were lost; the master left the ship on the 13th, and on 21 February she broke in two. Her stores were auctioned, and on 5 March the ship as she lay was sold to three Hamilton men. The Royal Gazette always called her simply the Zovetto.
After the Second World War Bermudian divers - among them Teddy Tucker, Conga Fox and Bobby and Donald Canton - stripped her and the neighbouring Pelinaion of brass, copper pipe and condensers, working on and off from 1948 into the 1960s.
A big, broken-up steamer lying down the outer face of the reef off St. David's, from about 20 ft at the top to 70 ft. The stern section and boilers are the most intact parts and the propeller is still visible, jammed into the reef; elsewhere there is a wide field of shafting, engine parts, winches and chain, plus several swim-throughs. Good for photographers, especially in spring and autumn for fish life, and often combined with the Pelinaion next door. Exposed site - calm conditions needed.
Approximate position, for interest only - never use for navigation.