The memory of six St. George's men lost at sea last century was honoured during a wreath-laying ceremony on Friday — despite stormy waters.

The Guild of the Holy Compassion — an organisation formed more than 90 years ago — held the service in the area where the pilot gig Ocean Queen sank in 1927.

Derek Tully, from the Guild, told The Royal Gazette that the Ocean Queen was on her way to bring in a ship when she disappeared.

"She had a crew of six St. George's men," said Dr. Tully. "Their bodies were never recovered. The gig was found floating upside down near Elbow Beach a few days later."

Pilots and former pilots took part in this year's event, setting out from Ordnance Island in St. George's to rendezvous at Five Fathom Hole with a container ship from Hamilton.

Dr. Tully said: "It was real rock 'n' roll out there. The seas were so rough."

He added: "It is quite a poignant event every year. Sometimes a cruise ship is there as well, but they have all gone for the year."

He said the Guild hoped to find the descendants of the Ocean Queen crew and take them out to sea for next year's ceremony.

The Guild began laying wreaths at sea for sailors lost in Bermuda waters in December 1988. Dr. Tully, deputy principal at Clearwater Middle School, said: "That month, the Lloyd Bermuda capsized and sank between New Jersey and Bermuda. Only three out of the 13 crew were saved.

"We had a service at St. Peter's several days later, when the weather was still violent, then the shipping agents, pilots plus myself and [fellow Guild member] J. Henry Hayward went out in the pilot boat and held a service at sea."

Before that, the Guild held the annual service at the Sailor's Plot in St. Peter's graveyard on North Shore.