Wild theories behind mysterious shipwreck called the ‘Ghost in the Sand’ that washed up on a treacherous coast out of nowhere
WHEN a shipwreck unexpectedly washed up on the shores of a small coastal community, the search began for its mysterious origins.
The enigmatic wooden ship has caught the attention of locals in Newfoundland, Canada – with desperate attempts to keep the boat underway.
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The sudden appearance of the ship’s remains on the sands of Cape Ray – a community of 350 people – has left residents excited and stunned.
Thirsty for knowledge, a team of enthusiasts sets out on a journey to discover the world history of the 100 foot long ship.
A team of archaeologists will use the wooden remains to measure the original size of the ship and determine the age of the trees used to build it.
The experts then compare samples with trees in them Canada And Europe to discover where the ship fits into history.
But time is not on their side: the ship risks being buried under the waves if it remains in the water.
The small community even has one GoFundMe page to retrieve money to save the boat before it disappears forever.
“We believe this shipwreck drifted into Cape Ray for a reason, and we want to help tell its story,” organizers wrote.
Their curiosity has fueled several theories about the ship’s history, from its crash during a storm to its possible European roots.
STORM FIONA
Some believe that powerful Hurricane Fiona, which hit the region in September 2022, lifted the shipwreck from the ocean floor.
A large ocean swell could then have picked up the boat and pushed it towards shore.
Neil Burgess, president of the Shipwreck Preservation Society of Newfoundland and Labrador, thinks it may have been a combination of coastal erosion and the force of Storm Fiona.
He told the Canadian Press: “This is perfect. This is a great, great event.”
EUROPEAN ORIGIN
The shipwreck appears to be a 19th century ship with possible European origins.
James Delgado, former director of maritime heritage for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said the ship has likely been buried for more than a century and a half.
Thousands of similar ships were built in the 19th century, connecting a trade route between Europe and Canada.
The community also has a long history of ship traffic and has seen dozens of shipwrecks since the 19th century.
Cape Ray overlooks a rugged part of the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by large, shallow rocks.
The community itself is located on an island nicknamed “The Rock”, the resting place of at least eight ships destroyed by the enemy ships. weather.
Jamie Brake, provincial archaeologist of Newfoundland, told the NY Times: “We live on an island with a great maritime history.
“Cape Ray is an exposed, treacherous coastline, with fog and reefs.”
Carissa Brown, a biogeographer, theorized that the ship was built in Europe and returned to Atlantic Canada when global trade began to boom.
She said CBC that the boat may have been damaged at some point and used pieces of wood from Canada for repairs.
About 90 percent of the community is made up of descendants of people from the British Isles who settled in the region between the early 17th and 19th centuries.
Wanda Blackmore, a resident with Scottish, Irish and English roots, said BBC that many locals can trace their ancestry back to the 18th century.
REMAINS OF PHYLLIS
The unexplained discovery has fascinated people around the world, and some theories have surfaced online.
One person posted Reddit conspiracy, linking the shipwreck to the remains of Phyllis – a British ship with soldiers and their families on board.
The Phyllis was wrecked off Cape Ray in 1795, just six weeks after sailing England.
Many of the passengers and crew unfortunately drowned, but some managed to escape death and reach the untrammeled land safely.
The survivors then spent two weeks on shore building huts from wood from the wrecked ship before being rescued by the Newfoundland schooner.