interested in the1715 treasure fleet VB?

[madcoco]

Anyone going to be at VB btween 6/22-30? I am trying to get together and put on an informal free seminar on the local history of the 1715 treasure fleet and do some fun beachcombing.(if there is enough interest and approval)With a little luck and patience you may find your own little bit of history. In one week last summer I ended up with a swordblade section,14 musketballs and 3 8reales(silver "pieces of eight") found within app 50 to 200 yards of the steps at the VB resort.VB rents metal detectors if you don't have your own.Please E-mail or leave info if interested.

[Beth]

madcoco,

We don't have any plans to be over there during that time - but it sures sounds interesting!

We had reservations to be at VB when they closed it and WDW for Floyd. MS allowed us to cancel our reservations with no penalties. When Floyd passed through faster than expected, we called back up and booked for the next two days. There was a guy out on the beach when we got there that had found over 60 pieces of eight. I was astonished, but he acted disappointed to have not found any gold!

My DH has ALWAYS wanted to rent a metal detector while we were there. They didn't have any for rent at the resort when we were there this past February - where do you rent them in Vero?

What specific day(s) during that time do you plan to hold your activities? I could almost be tempted to take off work and join you!

Have a great time!

[Snowgod]

We will be there 6/22-6/25 and are interested. Also would like to know about metal detectors for rent. We will have 8 people in our group.:smooth:

[madcoco]

Great! sounds like a good start. Ebb and Flows right at the resort pool rents them.I believe on certain days they may be free to members. They are decent for beginners.I will get some more info together as time goes by.I am not very good in speaking in front of crowds.:** am working on getting a guest speaker for a small time.June is prime salvage season so it may be hard to do plus I must get Disney's stamp of approval.If not we can still meet up and have some fun.

There was a guy out on the beach when we got there that had found over 60 pieces of eight. I was astonished, but he acted disappointed to have not found any gold!

After or during a storm is the best time to hunt as you have witnessed The Regla of the 1715 fleet is know as the Cabin wreck.(just upshore from the resort.It gets confused with the Green Cabin wreck which the bar at the resort is named for and from an earlier timeframe) The Regla was known to carry the"queens jewels" and tons of gold and silver.Some has been found alot has not.Beachfinds are finders keepers(as long as it is not on protected land) You cannot hunt or touch anything in the water due to admiralty rights.You would not believe what gets tossed over the shoulder as junk. I will try to keep everyone updated here. Thanks for listening.

[madcoco]

My DH has ALWAYS wanted to rent a metal detector while we were there. They didn't have any for rent at the resort when we were there this past February - where do you rent them in Vero?

They had them there as recently as October 01.:confused: Did you check at poolside where you rent the bikes etc? Maybe they got rid of them over the winter? More info to follow.

[madcoco]

Will be back in Melbourne this Friday AM going down to the Sebastian museum and VB for dinner.Heard a rumor that they just dumped thousands of tons of sand on the Wabasso Beach area/DVC resort which seriously puts in doubt of finding anything a unless a storm causes some cutting.May have to go further south.This has been a political battle between the county and state of FL.

I am going to try to set something up on the 23rd or 24th of June if at all possible.Will keep you updated.

[Beth]

madcoco -

It <i>was</i> Ebb & Flo's that we checked for the metal detectors. They said they didn't have any, and couldn't recommend a place for us locally to rent them. (?) Maybe we just got an uninformed CM?

Your trip is sounding better and better. Hmmm.... Wonder if there's any availability?... :)

[madcoco]

Wow They must have got rid of them over winter:mad: I will find out Friday what the scoop is. I am also awaiting a response from a gentleman who has did quite a bit of diving on the wreck to see if he is avail to come speak for a bit.We will see what happens.

[madcoco]

Update: Just heard from a guest speaker Mr Tom Gidus who puts on a good 1hr presentation(artifacts,slideshow,Qand A session etc) He can also give exact coordinates for beachcombing. Here is their site if you are interested.www.angelfire.com/fl/shipwreck
I couldn't get him for free but he will be driving down from Oveido and his fee was unbelievably small for what he does. Next step is getting final OK from the resort for a spot in community hall or somewhere else for a small time period.It looks like the 23 or 24th right now. It's looking up:)

[SamSam]

What an interesting site! I wish we could be at Vero Beach during the time you're coordinating this 'adventure', but it's not possible. But, thank you so much for giving us something to look forward when we are finally able to stay at Vero.

[madcoco]

Thanks and your welcome.:) Wish you could be there as well.I just hope it all comes together. The resort does offer a tour that takes you up to the museum and for some beachhunting but for some reason or another it gets cancelled frequently.

[Beth]

Madcoco.

How are your plans coming?

I'm really considering trying to get over for your seminar, but am reluctant to book the rooms until you get closer to confirming your schedule... Any update?

[madcoco]

Nothing has changed yet.Have not heard from Disney yet.I am leaving tomorrow night on a redeye to our place and will be hopefully getting it together personally instead of this longdistance phone tag.

I would hate for you to change plans, book a room only to find things cancelled. I will try to post something while I am down there this weekend.PM or E-mail me and I will give you a contact number. Thanks Mike

Have a ton of pics. This was a beach find close to our VB resort. . Pic courtesy of HRD.
http://www.hrd1715.com/images/Gallery/cufflinks.JPG

[madcoco]

Snowgod if still interested please PM or E-mail.ASAP. I will give you details.Will be limiting group to 10 people.

[Steve on LI]

I'd love to join you for the "adventure". I'll be down at VB 6/23-6/26.

[madcoco]

Things are set for June 24th at our Villa.(well at least a share anyway.LOL) Exact time still not set in stone.The 1715fleet salvage season will be in full gear at this time with a little luck he(Tom Gidus) may have a very recent find to show.I will bring a few of my beachfinds from last season with me as well.What is neat is the VB Resort is what they call ground zero for the treasure fleet and recent books with wreck locations are based on mileage from the resort.A lot of history here for those interested.Once again please E-mail or PM if you would like to get together. Thanks Mike

[madcoco]

Please PM or EMail. Need to know who to expect ASAP.May just meet at Captain Hiram's or Hurricane Harbor. May be a little more relaxing than stuffed in a room and they can fit a lot more folks.(May have a better selection of refreshments as well.:))Thanks Mike

Snowgod: VB for some reason or another, did get rid of their treasure detectors for rental.:confused: Unable so far to locate anywhere in the local area that rents them.:(

[CaptainMidnight]

Sorry we'll miss out on this, it sounds great. Thanks for the link to the web site, perhaps we'll be qable to get a group together for a future seminar when we'll be there.

[mic_KY_mouses]

madcoco, We will be at Vero June 1-5. I wish we could be there for your event. It's nice of you to put this together for fellow DVC members.

We will be taking our new metal detector with us. We got it for a Christmas gift and need to read up on how to use it. As we are novices to treasure hunting and this is our first DVC trip, do you have any advice for us? Will there be any resources for us to help us to know where to start looking?

[madcoco]

bump

[ez]

This is so cool. My dd 8 has been asking me recently if there are such things as buried treasures etc. We are going to vb next weekend. Guess I better get my hands on a metal detector!

[Maistre Gracey]

This sounds like a great idea. I only wish I could be there at that time!:(

[madcoco]

Thanks for the interest.:) Maybe we will get together at a later date.If all works out will try to make it into a normal DVC activity.
Here is just a bit of info on the wrecks.
http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Shores/9002/map.htm
Note the GreenCabinWreck.The lounge at the DVC is named for this wreck"The San Martin 1618" Obviously not part of the 1715 fleet.Was not "treasure" laden but has giving up many artifacts.

For those of you who are interested in Beachcombing,there are lots of other interesting things to look for on the Beach besides Galleon Artifacts at the VB resort.Sharks teeth,Sea Beans etc.
http://www.seabean.com/ Unfortunately the close in reefs(along with wave action) in the area which brought a tragic end to the 1715 fleet destroys most of the shells that wash up.Occasionally you can get some good specimens.

[madcoco]

Update: If anyone else is interested in the DVC get-together on 6/24,will be in the Green Cabin Room on the evening of the 23rd.Look for the goofiest guy with a ballcap.
http://www.artsandmusicpa.com/images/6_1147.jpg

[mburg1821]

When you dig I hope you do better than I did this past May 28 - June 1. I was on the beach by 0630 since not too many other folks were out walking. I must say that there is a lot of small pieces of iron just south of boardwalk. Found a few pop tops and fifty two cents. Since it was my first time to dig on the beach there I had no idea really where items were being found. As I like to dig, use a Tessaro bandito, it was fun and I did not have to worry about spiders, ticks, mosquitoes, and yellow flies as i do when I dig 2nd Smeinole War sites. Good luck. Like to know if you find anything good as I'm planning to head back down there next summer.

[madcoco]

Sorry you didn't find much.Fall/winter are much better times for beach hunting in the VB resort area.Since you live in FL, try to come down during the fall when the "northeaster" type storms hit and "cuts" the Beach.The many tiny pieces of iron you find in that area are probably from a couple of sunk barges that have broken up over the years to the south.Also there have been some beach reclamation projects in the viscinity and that has dumped a lot of excess sand in some areas.Well got to run.Mike

[disneydom]

AM NEW TO THIS MESSAGE BOARD, BUT WE WILL BE AT VB 21-24 SEE YA THERE

[Mickey4Me]

Unfortunately we'll be there a week too late for the gathering which sounds like a lot of fun! DH would love it. Sad to hear that VB no longer has the metal detectors for rent. I'd be interested in knowing if there is some other place locally that does. Thanks so much for the info :D

[Aurora2000]

Madcoco


We hope to be seeing you in the Green Cabin Room!