The progress of two boats was steady and uneventful across Start Bay. The radio in the tug was blasting out music, the sun was shining down, and any breeze was keeping well away. The sea was like a mill pond. As they passed the lighthouse at Start Point, Hallsands disappeared from view.
On they went around Prawle Point, past the Kingsbridge estuary, by Bolt Head To Bolt tail, with just a slight breeze now.
They would soon come to the last stretch passing by the River Avon and Burgh Island when the sea started to swell.
Then the Totnes Castle sank. This is beyond doubt but the circumstances of the next important moments involve much hearsay.
Was the skipper, who was now nearing home as he crossed Bigbury Bay going too fast? Had he let his attention lapse ? He was certainly enjoying the music joining in heartily, "Baby, now that I found you, I can't let you go".
Then the tug snatched. He looked round to see a wave sweep over the paddle steamer. And another. With the weight of sea now inside her, the decks were barely above sea level. She was perilously close to sinking by the time the 'Antony' had stopped.
The skipper shouted to his crew, "cast her off.”
They frantically untied the cables. Then when the two boats were free of each other all the crew could do was watch. There was silence as P S Totnes Castle wallowed in the water, welcoming aboard the rolling swell. She stayed that way for some time until very slowly she sank down to the bed of the ocean. Soon, all that was left were a few bubbles and a little debris.
The skipper looked at one of crew. "I didn't think it were funny just then when we was casting of."
"Neither did I skip, I was shitting myself."
"Enough to laugh?"
"Not me skip."
"Who was it then?
No one volunteered. Tugboat Antony and crew continued to Plymouth.