The Adelaide.
2002
2002: Discovery and excavation of the Adelaide, a vessel from the 1714 "trade", off the coast of Cuba.
During one of IEASM’s survey campaigns in September 2002, the remains of a frigate called Adelaide, a "trading" vessel, were discovered. Given the rarity of this type of wreck, an archaeological excavation was carried out in 2003 in collaboration with the Heritage Department of the Cuban Ministry of Culture.
The archives made it possible to establish the ship’s route: the Adelaide left the port of Lorient (France) in 1714 for Guinea, where it took on board 360 slaves. She then sailed to the port of Leogane in Jamaica where the slaves were sold, and the ship left empty for Havana, Cuba, to load goods belonging to the Assiente trading company. En route she was caught by a hurricane on 10 October 1714 and washed ashore. Her captain, M. de Champorot, managed to avoid the cliffs at Cape Corrientes and made his way to a small sandy beach west of the cape. Although he succeeded in dropping anchor close to the coast, it broke and the frigate crashed on the rocks. The bow washed ashore with a few survivors, some of whom managed to reach Havana and return to France. The stern sank with 106 people on board.
Mission report: Havana.
Publication in progress.
The archives made it possible to establish the ship’s route: the Adelaide left the port of Lorient (France) in 1714 for Guinea, where it took on board 360 slaves. She then sailed to the port of Leogane in Jamaica where the slaves were sold, and the ship left empty for Havana, Cuba, to load goods belonging to the Assiente trading company. En route she was caught by a hurricane on 10 October 1714 and washed ashore. Her captain, M. de Champorot, managed to avoid the cliffs at Cape Corrientes and made his way to a small sandy beach west of the cape. Although he succeeded in dropping anchor close to the coast, it broke and the frigate crashed on the rocks. The bow washed ashore with a few survivors, some of whom managed to reach Havana and return to France. The stern sank with 106 people on board.
Mission report: Havana.
Publication in progress.