CAPE COD SALVAGE & RECOVERY

The History of the Pirate Vessel Whydah
The Whydah Gally, often simply referred to as the Whydah, is one of the most famous pirate ships in history. Built in 1715 as a slave ship, the Whydah was a 100-foot, 300-ton vessel designed for speed and capacity. During its maiden voyage from Jamaica, it was captured by the notorious pirate Samuel “Black Sam” Bellamy.

The Capture and Pirate Life
Bellamy and his crew used the Whydah to plunder other ships, amassing a significant amount of treasure. The Whydah became Bellamy’s flagship, and it is believed to have carried the loot from over 50 captured vessels. The ship’s journey, however, was cut short on April 26, 1717, when it encountered a powerful nor’easter off the coast of Wellfleet, Massachusetts. The storm drove the Whydah onto a sandbar, where it broke apart and sank. Of the 146 men on board, only two survived.

Discovery by Barry Clifford
The wreck of the Whydah remained lost for over 260 years until it was discovered by underwater explorer Barry Clifford in 1984. Clifford’s discovery was monumental, as the Whydah is the only fully authenticated pirate shipwreck ever recovered. The site has yielded over 200,000 artifacts, including tens of thousands of coins, more than 60 cannons, and numerous everyday items used by the crew.

The Whydah Pirate Museum
Many of the artifacts recovered from the Whydah are displayed at the Whydah Pirate Museum in West Yarmouth, Massachusetts. Opened in June 2016, the museum houses the largest collection of pirate artifacts from a single shipwreck in the world. Visitors can explore interactive exhibits and learn about the history of the Whydah, the life of pirates during the Golden Age of Piracy, and the ongoing efforts to recover and preserve the ship’s treasures.
The Treasure
The Whydah was believed to hold treasure from more than 50 ships when it sank. Barry Clifford and his team have recovered an estimated 4.5 tons of treasure from the wreck, including gold dust, coins, and other valuable items. The ongoing excavation continues to reveal new artifacts, providing invaluable insights into the material culture of early 18th-century piracy.