> The large sandstone reef to the south east of the wreckage with a pinnacle at the blinder known as Birkenhead Rock slopes down to about 27 m at the edge of the sand, which runs roughly east–west magnetic. The slope of this reef is quite steep to the east, but flattens out a bit where the engines of the wreck lie stacked at the edge of the sand.
> This course kept the Birkenhead within approximately three miles of the coast, maintaining a speed of approximately 8 knots.
> One young officer did manage the three mile swim to the shore where he emerged to find his own horse standing waiting for him.