Read about the history! Enjoy the view!
"One of the most told stories in the islands history is the
story of "The Wreck of the Ten Sail". Legend says that one night in
November, 1788, the "Cordelia", the lead ship of a convoy of
merchant ships bound from Jamaica to Britain ran aground on the
reef at East End. A signal was given off to warn off the other
ships, but was misunderstood as a call to follow closer and nine
more ships sailed onto the reef. The people of East End are
reported to have shown great heroism in ensuring that no lives were
lost and legend further states that one of the lives saved was one
of royalty. For this, King George III is said to have granted the
islands freedom from conscription, while another report claims that
freedom from taxation was bestowed on the people of the islands as
a reward. Actual records do not support this story entirely"
Another version of the story:
"One of the most colourful historic legends, The Wreck of The Ten
Sail, was recently "rewritten" in an accurate account uncovered
through detailed research by Dr. Margaret Leshikar Denton. On
February 8, 1794, not November 1788 as long thought, 10 merchant
vessels went aground in rough seas off Grand Cayman's East End, led
by the HMS Convert. Contrary to an enduring popular legend, the
convoy did not carry Prince William, the future King William IV, or
any member of the Royal family, whose courageous rescue by
Caymanians was attributed with the granting of the Cayman's freedom
from taxation by King George III."
The cache is a regular sized lock-and-lock container. It is
starting out with some toys and a piggy geocoin that originated in
New Jersey and wants to see the world. PLEASE NOTE: There is no
need to climb over all those sharp rocks! Sometimes the best way is
not the shortest way. I hope you enjoy the cache and the view.
By the way, the wreck you will see offshore is from the 1960's, not
part of the Wreck of the Ten Sail. The ships from 1794 were made of
wood and are long gone. All that is left are two cannons (one of
them is pictured above) and an anchor. If you drive north a bit
from this spot, on the left you will see the two cannons. The 1794
anchor is still out by the reef. You can take a snorkel trip out
there to see it. It is pictured below.
ShellyShel at the Wreck Of Ten Sail historic spot.
Small note on cache maintenance: cache owner is
here quarterly and has friends on the island that can perform
maintenance if needed.