In the village of Svínoy stands a modest but deeply meaningful memorial — a gravestone marking the final resting place of twenty sailors from Stromness, Orkney, who lost their lives when their ship, the Rachel, was wrecked in the bay of Svínoy on November 27, 1786.

The Rachel was a sealing sloop from Stromness, part of an annual tradition of sailing to remote rocks in search of seals. On this particular voyage, the ship was forced to seek shelter from a storm in the bay of Svínoy. Tragically, the anchor failed to hold, and the vessel was wrecked. Of the 23 men on board, only three survived — including the skipper, William Melvin — thanks to the efforts and care of the local Faroese villagers. The remaining twenty men were buried in the village, and the anchor from the wreck was later placed on top of the memorial stone.

Centuries later, in August 2011, a new plaque was unveiled at the site by the Convener of Orkney Islands Council, Stephen Hagan, and other representatives from Stromness and the Faroes. Presented on behalf of the Stromness Community Council, the plaque serves as a tribute not only to those who died but also to the kindness shown by the people of Svínoy to the survivors.

The memorial is a solemn reminder of the dangers faced by seafarers and the enduring connection between communities across the North Atlantic. As George Argo, Chair of the Stromness Community Council, noted at the time of the unveiling, “Our community has always had a close connection with the sea… this is a fitting reminder of a crew who perished far from home many years ago.”

Today, the stone and plaque in Svínoy continue to honor both the lives lost and the compassion extended in a time of tragedy.