March 18th 2024.
Off the coast of Cornwall lies a mysterious wreck that has been undisturbed on the seabed for centuries. Known as the "El Dorado of the Seas," this ship, called the Merchant Royal, may finally reveal its secrets. It is said to have carried up to £4 billion worth of gold and other precious metals, making it a treasure beyond imagination.
Despite numerous attempts, the Merchant Royal has never been found. There is no X that marks the spot, and many have come back empty-handed. However, a UK company called Multibeam Services is determined to locate this elusive wreck. Led by former fisherman and diver Nigel Hodge, the team of 11 is setting out on the search next month. They plan to cover a 200 square mile area of the English Channel and dedicate an entire year to the search.
Nigel emphasizes that this is not a "gold rush" and that their main goal is not to get rich quick. Instead, they are driven by the desire to uncover the truth and potentially discover valuable heritage artifacts. With new technology at their disposal, including unmanned underwater vessels and advanced sonar, the team is hopeful that they will be able to solve the mystery of the Merchant Royal.
However, Nigel acknowledges that the search will not be easy. The stretch of water where the ship sank is notoriously dangerous and filled with thousands of other shipwrecks. They will need to carefully sift through these wrecks and identify the Merchant Royal among them. As Nigel puts it, "If it was straightforward, it would have been done."
Based in Redruth, the company employs several ex-fishermen who have extensive knowledge of the local waters. This, along with their advanced technology, gives them an advantage over previous attempts to find the Merchant Royal. The ship went down in 1641 on its way back from Mexico and the Caribbean, carrying a large sum of money and treasures. It was supposed to deliver payment for 30,000 soldiers and valuable cargo to Flanders. However, only 40 men were rescued, and the rest, along with the treasure, sank to the bottom of the sea.
The loss of the Merchant Royal was significant, and even King Charles I spoke of it as the "greatest loss ever sustained in one ship." Despite being lost for 400 years, the search for this legendary wreck intensified in 2019 when a fishing boat hauled up an anchor thought to belong to the missing vessel. However, if the wreck is ever found, it may not look like what we imagine. Since the ship was made of wood, it would have long since rotted away, leaving only metal parts such as cannons and the anchor, which may have already been removed and taken to land.
Multibeam Services has a track record of finding lost wrecks, including a sunken pirate ship filled with treasure. Nigel anticipates that the upcoming documentary about their search for the Merchant Royal will reveal all the details. The team will also be joined by former special forces soldier and commando Jason Fox, who will document their journey.
Nigel knows that their search is like finding a needle in a haystack, but he remains optimistic. They face many challenges, including the unpredictable elements and the need to wait for certain conditions to use their equipment. To avoid constantly crossing back and forth from the mainland, the team will base themselves in the Isles of Scilly.
If they do find the Merchant Royal, Nigel is aware that it won't be a story of instant riches. However, with potentially £4 billion worth of treasure on board, a generous finder's fee is not out of the question. In the end, for Nigel and his team, the thrill of the search and the satisfaction of finding answers is what truly drives them.
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