Norseman Unplugged
A
cache
by Fiendish frogman
Hidden:
3/2/2008
Size:
 (Small)
Difficulty: 
Terrain:
(1 is easiest, 5 is hardest)
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A straight forward location that can be used as a simple “cache and
dash” effort or extended southwards towards Warsash along the banks
of the River Hamble for a more pleasant walk, perhaps stopping off
at the marina cafe around the headland? The paths are simple and
suitable for walkers, bikes and buggies but the cache requires a
bit of a scramble close to the water’s edge – children should be
under supervision. The site is best viewed at low tide.
Start your trip by parking at the free car park in Swanwick Shore
Road, Lower Swanwick, (for location see below).
From here walk towards the information boards, look at the details
about the shipwreck – these will be shown to be WRONG.
Make your way to the cache site taking care to guard your
activities from the many walkers etc. (Please take care to replace
the cache exactly as found to enhance the fun for the people
following you).
Once found turn your attention towards the river. At low tide you
will see a series of planks in the mud – doesn’t look too promising
does it? However, research by the Fiendish Frogman has shown that
this all that remains of a once proud top masted schooner known as
the “Norseman”. This was built at C&R Poillon of Brooklyn New
York in 1881 (not 1847 as shown on the information boards) for a
local multi-millionaire called Ogden Goelet. The yacht was raced
successfully in America for some fifteen years before his death in
1897. Somewhere between 1916 and 1917 the yacht was registered with
Lloyds of London and in 1925 registered in Southampton where she
was converted to a houseboat. During WWII she was moored at Hamble
where she spent her time as a brothel, frequented by soldiers and
sailors seeking “comfort”. After the war the “Norseman” moved to
her present location where she was gutted by fire in 1947. A local
resident, living close by to this day, saved a woman and baby from
the flames. The “baby”, now grown to middle age, returned some
years ago to show the resident his children.
The remains of the yacht have been ravaged by fire, tide, weather
and people using the wreck as a source of firewood. However, it has
now been adopted under the Nautical Archaeology Society scheme and
it is hoped to increase our knowledge of this site by further
research.
For more information about the wreck please take a look at the
Norseman Wreck website (visit link)
Please do NOT attempt to approach the wreck, the mud is VERY deep
and you WILL sink!!
Other than that I hope you have a great time exploring the banks of
the River Hamble
Additional Hints (
Decrypt
)
Decryption Key
A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z
(letter above equals below,
and vice versa)
|
Yvar hc fbyne cbfg va evire naq abegu raq bs terra furq ba bccbfvgr onax, va ynetr "ebpx" ba onax
(Decrypted Hints)
Find...
 Norseman in sail
Just to show the wreck didn't alway look as it does now. This was the "Norseman" in her heyday!
The "Norseman"
If you arrive at low tide this is what you'll see. At high tide you may only see a small "stick" poking up.
Built in 1881 the "Norseman" was once a fine top-masted schooner that eventually became a houseboat and brothel before finally catching fire where it can be seen now.....
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Logged Visits (
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Warning.
Spoilers may be included in the descriptions or links.
Cache find counts are based on the last time the page generated.
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Current time: 11/22/2009 9:29:26 AM
Last Updated: 11/15/2009 9:05:43 PM
Rendered: From Database
Coordinates are in the WGS84 datum
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