DetectingWales.com

By Sarah Griffiths

A ship that was part of a famous fleet led by Sir Walter Raleigh, which sank without a trace, could have been found at last.

Scientists are testing the remains of a shipwreck thought to be the Flying Joan, which was scuppered as the legendary explorer began his search for the ‘Lost City of Gold’.
The 50ft boat set sail in 1617 as part of a fleet led by Sir Walter looking for the mythical riches of El Dorado.

The stricken 50ft boat set sail in 1617 as part of a fleet led by Sir Walter Raleigh looking for the mythical riches of El Dorado

It sailed from Plymouth, Devon, towards the West Indies, but was destroyed by a huge storm and sank without a trace.

The 120 tonne ship has lain on the sea bed for nearly 400 years but divers think they have finally found its remains off the coast of Cornwall, along with Tudor guns and pottery.


Early analysis of the wreckage has proved inconclusive but English Heritage has this week sent off hull samples to be carbon dated by experts in a bid to solve the mystery once and for all.

Divers Todd Stevens and Robin Burrows found the wreck in the summer of 2012 after using a magnetometer to pinpoint unusual objects on the seabed.
They say their photos and artefacts prove it is Sir Walter’s ship, but experts have never verified the find.

Divers Todd Stevens (pictured) and Robin Burrows found the wreck in 2012 after using a magnetometer to pinpoint unusual objects on the seabed. They say their photos and artefacts prove it is Sir Walter's ship, but experts have never verified the find. In this photo, Mr Stevens is holding a 'bung hole jug' circa 1550


SIR WALTER RALEIGH
Sir Walter Raleigh (1554 - 1618) was an English aristocrat, writer, poet, soldier, politician, courtier, spy, and explorer.

He was popular with Queen Elizabeth I and instrumental of the English colonisation of North America, paving the way for settlements in Virginia.
In 1594 he heard about a 'City of Gold' in South America and sailed to find it, publishing an exaggerated account of his experiences in a book that contributed to the legend of 'El Dorado'.
But after Queen Elizabeth died in 1603, he was imprisoned in the Tower of London for being involved in the Main Plot against King James I.
In 1616, he was released to lead a second expedition in search of El Dorado in 1617, but it was unsuccessful and men under his command ransacked a Spanish outpost.

He returned to England and to appease the Spanish, was arrested and executed in 1618.

.The Flying Joan, captained by John Chindley, was known to have sunk off Scilly on June 12, 1617 as it departed the West Country, led by Raleigh’s 440-tonne ship called The Destiny.

The fleet of 30 ships was scattered by a storm shortly after setting sail and two ships, including the Flying Joan, sank.

The expedition was Raleigh’s second failed attempt to find a ‘City of Gold’ thought to be somewhere between Trinidad and the north east coast of Venezuela.
Mark Dunkley, maritime designation advisor for English Heritage, said the carbon dating analysis will likely take several months.

‘The remains of Elizabethan wreck sites are extremely rare and when discovered in English waters, they are considered to be nationally important,’ he said.
‘English Heritage cannot commit to any association with Sir Walter Raleigh until we have completed our investigation of the site and have analysed the results of tree-ring dating, which we will be undertaking within the next few months, to determine whether the hull timbers are Elizabethan or not,’ he added.

Like a lot of interesting sites reported on land 'THEY', the powers that be, seem reluctant to verify anything they haven't found themselves.
It is well known that there are hundreds of ship wrecks around our coast. Think we'd all love to find just one with some treasure still hidden in it.

Thanks for posting Neil.

Val

Excellent read Neil. Thanks for posting.

Thanks Neil, I love reading about  new discoveries as it gives some of us a  little glimmer of hope  to finding the big one ;D

The wreck is in shallow waters by light penetration. Single cylinder no nitrox.12 to 15m at a guess, loads of bottom time.
Great visability to and a fantastic wreck find hope it is looked after and the bods do protect it from wreck divers. As in my day anything and everything was removed from wrecks declared and left in shed, some things went to museums.
a great story to follow

very interesting read,and i never knew raleigh was executed,mind you he still made a good bike  ;D

yes indeed i had many of sir walter's bikes when i was young :D :D :D