Page 4 - Bulletin 22 2019

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SHIPWRECKS IN FALSE BAY – THE AGE OF SAIL

Gary Mills

Introduction

In order to create a more realistic picture in our minds of an era passed, we need to tear our

minds away from the modern mindset of sailing the high seas. Shipping as we know it has all
the luxuries and comforts of high society – warmth, good food, good health, great

entertainment and all the services one may require, should our comfort zone be rocked.

Ships of the modern era would dwarf their earlier counterparts. Sailing ships varied in size,
depending on their application, but were miniscule in comparison to modern day vessels.

(Fig. 1.1.) A modern shipwreck rarely has a fatality and when that does happen, it is massive

news. The fatality rate in the days of sail was huge, yet a seemingly acceptable eventuality,
which came with job.

Wreck-diving evokes images of Spanish galleons, pirate ships and untold riches scattered

across the seabed. Whilst there are many highly prized ships which have sunk over the
centuries, there were few in our waters. What we call treasure ships in the seas off the Cape

are those which surrender their trading cargoes such as tin, copper, and sometimes the profits

from a previous voyage in the way of silver coins.

None of this compares with the cargo value of such ships as the Atocha, which after 17 years

of search, was located in the Florida Keys and salvaged by Mel Fisher in 1985. The Atocha
was carrying over 2 million Pesos in gold and silver, including jewellery and silver ingots,

and generated close to a billion dollars. (Figs. 1.2 – 1.4.)