TREASURE: Wreck of the Treasure Ship Whydah

The Whydah Galley was a fully rigged galley ship that was originally built as a passenger, cargo, and slave ship. On the return leg of its maiden voyage of the triangle trade, it began a new role in the Golden Age of Piracy, when it was captured by the pirate Captain Samuel “Black Sam” Bellamy, and was refitted as his flagship.

Just after midnight in late April 1717, the Whydah was suddenly struck by an extremely powerful Nor’easter storm with the force of a Category-One hurricane. Running bow-first into a sandbar 16-feet deep at about 500 feet from the shore at what today is Marconi Beach of Wellfleet, she was battered by 30 to 40 feet waves. Within minutes the masts fell and the ship was pulled into 30 feet of water where she completely capsized, sending over 4.5 short tons (4.1 tonnes) of silver and gold, more than 60 cannons and 144 people to the ocean floor.

The Whydah and her treasure eluded discovery for over 260 years until 1984, when the wreck was found – buried between 10 to 50 feet of sand, under water depths of 16 to 30 feet deep, spread four miles parallel to the Cape’s coast. With the discovery of the ship’s bell in 1985 and a small brass placard in 2013, both inscribed with the ship’s name and maiden voyage date, the Whydah is the only fully authentic pirate treasure wreck.

LOCATION, GPS

The wreck is located in the Cape Cod National Seashore at Marconi Beach Rd, Wellfleet, MA 02667, USA 41.891089, -69.964810 Follow the Google map through to see what restaurants, accommodations and other attractions are located nearby. The Whyday Museum is currently located in Provincetown, Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

ACCESS

While discoveries are occasionally made on the beaches of Cape Cod, the State of Massachusetts has rigid laws regarding shipwrecks and divers should review these regulations and laws. Some sites are “exempted” sites that remain open for the enjoyment of the public.

THE STORY

Wreck of the Treasure Ship Whydah. 

Whydah Gally (commonly known simply as the Whydah) was a fully rigged galley ship that was originally built as a passenger, cargo, and slave ship. On the return leg of her maiden voyage of the triangle trade, Whydah Gally was captured by the pirate Captain Samuel “Black Sam” Bellamy, beginning a new role in the Golden Age of Piracy.

Bellamy sailed Whydah Gally up the coast of colonial America, capturing other ships as he went along. On 26 April 1717, Whydah Gally was caught in a violent storm and wrecked off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Only two of Whydah Gally‘s crew survived, along with seven others who were on a sloop captured by Bellamy earlier that day. Six of the nine survivors were hanged, two who had been forced into piracy were freed, and one Indian crewman was sold into slavery.

Whydah Gally and her treasure of captured pirate gold eluded discovery for over 260 years until 1984, when the wreck was found off the coast of Cape Cod, buried under 10 ft (3 m) to 50 ft (15 m) feet of sand, in depths ranging from 16 ft (5 m) to 30 ft (9 m) feet deep, spread for four miles, parallel to the Cape’s easternmost coast. With the discovery of the ship’s bell in 1985 and a small brass placard in 2013, both inscribed with the ship’s name and maiden voyage date, Whydah Gally is the only fully authenticated Golden Age pirate shipwreck ever discovered. 

Read it all at – Wikipedia

MEDIA & REFERENCES

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