North Carolina
Lost 1880 - Iron-hulled sailing barque
Image courtesy of the Government of Bermuda.
History
The North Carolina was a three-masted iron barque built on the Clyde in 1876 and owned in Liverpool. In late 1879 she was on her way from Baltimore to Liverpool with cotton, bark and general cargo when rudder damage forced her into Bermuda, where she arrived in November for repairs.
She sailed from St George's on 30 December 1879, but on New Year's Day 1880 she struck a reef off the island's west end and stuck fast. The hull was not badly damaged at first, and later in the month Captain Alexander Buchan tried to haul her off. On 27 January, as she was being pulled clear, the ship settled onto one of her own anchors left on the reef; the anchor pierced the hull and she sank where she lay.
Diving the wreck today
The North Carolina is often called one of Bermuda's prettiest wrecks. She sits upright on sand between 25 and 45 ft, with the bow and the graceful stern largely intact and the midships collapsed. The bowsprit still angles up towards the surface, and rows of deadeyes and rigging line her rails. Coral and sponges cover the hull, and hogfish and snapper are common.
It is a good dive for all levels in calm conditions, but the fine sand stirs up easily, so careful buoyancy keeps the visibility clear.
Where it is
Approximate position, for interest only - never use for navigation.