The earliest recorded accident crossing the Sumner Bar occurred in May 1845 when a whaleboat capsized, without loss of life. The earliest recorded loss of life was in 1851 when a dinghy capsizes and two men aboard drowned. The cutter "Hawk" broke up crossing the Sumner Bar in rough weather at the end of June 1851 and wrecked on the beach, though the crew survived, the cargo was plundered. Fifteen more vessels were recorded as stranding on the bar between 1851 and 1867, with 7 being total losses.