Summary

UAB staff members Richard Lawrence, Nathan Henry, Julep Gillman-Bryan and Chris Southerly conducted a post storm event inspection of the Queen Anne’s Revenge shipwreck site, October 2, 2003. Winds were NNE 20-25 but the seas were relatively calm (2-3) in the lee of the banks. Conditions were generally favorable with visibility 5-6 feet diminishing with the falling tide later in the afternoon. The site area itself is scoured and exposed, more so than immediately prior to the storm. Sand elevation data is included below for comparison. Newly exposed ballast rocks along the baseline in the 60-70 range extend westward into the site area. Previously unexposed ballast in the 70-80 range extend from about 5 feet east of the baseline to the main ballast pile. The southeast area of the pile is also exposed with rigging elements and barrel hoops clearly visible. Timber/plank ends can be seen beneath the pile along the south edge. Some sandbags can be seen along the north side of the pile at the edge of past excavation areas. The north anchor is exposed almost to the stock.

 

Details

The buoy was thrown on the pile coordinates, Snapdragon was anchored NE of the buoy, and RWL entered the water to locate the site. Once located, a mooring line was fastened to the east screw eye and Snapdragon’s stern secured to the mooring. RWL proceeded with general recon and cleanup, collecting loose polypro, and restringing the baseline and reference line to the east screw eye. All the reference lines were loose, several baseline stakes were missing (missing data in the table below), but location tags on the remaining stakes and artifacts remained. RWL attached cross tapes on the 20N and 140N transect stakes in preparation for shooting video. NCH and JGB entered the water with the N-S tape and placed it at 15 east of the baseline (115,20 to 115,140). CWS entered the water with camera and proceeded to shoot video following the reference line. East of the tape going north, west of the tape going south. Height 4-5 feet above the bottom, widest view on the camera. Video was shot across the area moving the reference line westward at 5 foot intervals. Once video coverage was completed CWS proceeded to shoot video of the exposed site to document details. Two pieces of lead bilge strainer were observed, one near the 70 baseline stake the other just to the west. After completing the video site breakdown took place with JGB and CWS collecting the tapes and removing the baseline and reference lines. Elevation data was collected to the south by RWL on the first dive and CWS to the north on the last dive.

Observations

Newly exposed areas of the site need to be mapped as soon as possible. For shooting video, the camera must be closer to the subject given the visibility conditions. Lane spacing should also be closer, perhaps 3 feet rather than 5 feet. It may also prove useful to use a double tape system with the camera shooting between, as it is difficult to judge positioning with the camera to keep the reference line in the edge of the video. Slower passes will also prove better for video as the camera’s auto-focus initially has difficulty not focusing on particulate matter in the water. This problem also may be solved with better visibility, closer distances to the bottom, or not using the auto-focus.

      

 

Sand Elevation Data

As can be seen from sand elevations, the southern end of the site remained consistent with some deposition of sand. The extreme northern end also remained relatively consistent in sand levels. However, locations with relief (the main pile and north anchor) show evidence of scouring. From 70 to 120 this is extreme, over 10 inches at the ends and more extensive around 90 and 100, as the stakes were completely gone due to scour.