Blog 010 – Wrecks, Wrecks and More Wrecks

Sailing the east coast has been a new experience for us. You might think, what’s there to do on a sail boat sitting in an anchorage? Let me share with you one of my favorite things. Liana and I are adventurous to say the least. While we have been on the east coast this is one thing that is a constant-wrecks, wrecks and more wrecks. The coast is riddled with them. The chart plotter could direct you to a hundred on any given day. This could be derelicts of yesteryear, victims of fateful storms that ran good ships onto the rocks or the myriad of hurricanes that have pummeled the coastline in years past.

What ever the cause, each one is interesting. It’s like going thru an abandoned mine shaft or going into a cave with a flashlight just to see what is in there. I was always the one holding the flashlight and saying, “Common guys let’s go check this out.” It’s no different now. I want to go explore all of them. We try as often as possible to load up our dingy and go exploring, to check out these lost souls of the marine world. This is going to keep our diving adventures interesting but the water clarity here is poor, so none of that yet.

As an example, Compass Rose is a pretty little sloop hard aground in Titusville, Florida. She is way back in the bay and barely visible from our boat sitting at our mooring. We just had to pay her a visit. It was a bit of rough water to cross to get to her but it was worth the trip. By the time we got there Liana’s backside was dripping wet from salt spray. Compass Rose is locked in a life and death struggle against nature. She is not passing into the deep with out a fight. She resembles something out of Pirates of the Caribbean. Her sails shredded but her mast still standing tall. Decks awash and seemingly sailing into the sunset.

I want a piece of every wreck I explore. You know, something to remember them by.  My wife has not allowed this treasure hunting yet, but there is still hope. I think something with the ships’ named engraved on it or a picture from the bulkhead. A memory of a time when she proudly carried her crew with strength and safety.

Some, we find so far up on the beach that only a storm surge of epic proportions could have carried these very heavy sailing vessels so high and dry on the rocks. It’s a sad feeling seeing them now as they ended up. Knowing in their past they were as loved and cared for as our yacht, Silhouette. There was a day when they were christened into life with a bottle of champagne. The smell of new varnish still permeating from the interior. The brass and stainless all polished and gleaming, the new coat of paint reflecting every wave. Complete with a red, white and blue flag flying from the staff on her stern. But like us time is the enemy. The first scratch, the first rust streak, the first hint of moss above the waterline.

They say there are two best days in a sailors life, the day you buy a new boat and the day you sell it. Liana and I have never experienced the second half of this. We have always loved and cared for each boat that we have owned and the day they left us they were in better shape than we found them. We are always a little sad the day they go to a new owner.

What ever the story, it’s always sad to see these vessels forlorn and forgotten. I do realize they are not human or even animals but they do require care just the same. Any true sailor will think of them as having souls and feelings and needs just like us…it’s no wonder Forest Gump named them all Jenny!

Exploring old wrecks is something to look forward to if you visit us on Silhouette. Bring your flash lights and a camera. If Liana’s not around you may even get to take home a souvenir.