SEA KEEPS
BOATING
SECRETS Treasured History
DOOMED FLEET’S
BY JULIE TARASOVIC
With all the latest technology in modern day maritime
engineering, it’s difficult to imagine what it was like
for crew and passengers sailing halfway around the
world in 1715 onboard wooden ships bound for the New
World. A combination of excitement, the unknown, and danger
drove these people of the 18th century on a voyage of
possibility and peril.
Two hundred and ninety two years later, we are still learning
about the ill-fated Spanish Plate Fleet that sank off the
east coast of Florida because of a horrific July hurricane.
Nearly half of the 2,500 lives onboard the 11 ships were lost,
as well as several hundred millions of dollars in treasure.
Only one ship managed to escape that deadly morning, the
French vessel Grifon, which the Spanish had forced to sail
with the fleet to keep their movements secret. But even the
survival of that ship is debated by historians. Pirates and
buccaneers were prevalent in those days, tracking ships they
knew were laden with treasures.
Spain sent two fleets annually to the New World, the
Galeones de Tierra Firme and the New Spain Flota. The first
sailed to Colombia where it picked up emeralds, gold and
pearls and then to Peru for silver. The second fleet sailed to
Veracruz, Mexico, for its silver, cochineal and indigo dyes as
well as goods from the Orient. The two fleets met up in
D o n ’ t L e t I t S l i p !
One of the best-kept secrets on the Intercoastal
Waterway is the Fort Pierce City Marina, where you can
enjoy everything historic downtown Fort Pierce has to
oer just a few steps away from your boat.
Fort Pierce
City Marina
Downtown Waterfront
772.464.1245
www.fortpiercecitymarina.com
Slips available
by day, week
or season.
GREAT RATES!
>>
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/www.fortpiercecitymarina.com