Summary
UAB staff members Richard Lawrence, Chris Southerly, Nathan Henry, and Julep Gillman-Bryan conducted an inspection of the Queen Anne's Revenge shipwreck site, August 18, 2004. Winds were light from the south and seas relatively calm (2-3 feet). Diving conditions were generally favorable with visibility 4-5 feet between high and slack tide. Hurricane Charley recently passed just west of the site, August 14, 2004, moving overland up the North Carolina coast. During the storm, winds in the area measured 37mph sustained, with gusts up to 49mph. Storm surge was estimated at 2-3 feet along the Bogue Banks beaches, and therefore on the QAR site.

The site area shows evidence of scour around the main pile. Ballast and concretions east of the baseline between 70 and 80 north are again exposed, not seen since after Hurricane Isabel in September 2003. (Figure 1).Cannon C-1 is very exposed, almost completely above the surrounding sand (Figure 2).Cask hoops and rigging elements to the southwest side of the pile were also exposed more than previously observed.(Figure 3).Sacrificial planking at the south edge of the pile that is normally buried was easily visible extending up to 5 feet south covered only with a light dusting of sand.(Figure 4).Sandbags could be seen along the north side of the pile at the edge of past excavation areas and along the east side.(Figure 5). Anchor A-1 was exposed completely down to the ring and anchor A-3 was exposed almost to the stock. Part of the wooden stock of anchor A-3 was also exposed just to the north of the anchor. The area south of BL60 was still sanded in.

Details
The buoy was thrown on the pile coordinates, and RWL entered the water with a mooring buoy. Once RWL located the site, the mooring line was fastened to the east screw-eye and R/V Snap Dragon secured to the mooring. RWL proceeded with general recon and site cleanup. NCH entered the water with the digital camera to do general recon and document conditions and site exposure. Once RWL returned, CWS entered the water to take sand elevations and conduct a visual recon (Figure 6). JGB also conducted a site reconnaissance and as the last diver in the water, retrieved the buoy and released the mooring line from the east screw-eye. A single fragment of stoneware found near the exposed planking south of the pile was recovered because of the likelihood of it being lost (Figures 7, 8). Detailed sand measurements show a deposition of sand to the north area of the site, scour in the immediate vicinity of the pile (especially to the east and south), and a slight sand loss to the south area of the site (Figure 9).

Number of Divers: 4
Number of Dives: 4
Dive Time: 3 hours 51 minutes

Sand Elevation Data

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