Green markers show ports whose location in uncertain
Events Show
A 19-12-1669
B 20-12-1669
C 22-12-1669
Red circles show the possible range that the event occured in
The Madonna set off from Messina carrying Sicilian cheeses and fish bound for Livorno. Owing to bad weather the captain decided to put in at Baia. Thinking that the weather had cleared, the ship left Baia, only to run into bad weather again around Monte Cercelli with strong winds from the East and North-East. The captain and crew decided to make a jettison, beginning with the skiff and its four oars, followed by the fireheath, a tow rope, tools, barrels and the seamen’s cots. In the morning, with the storm continuing, the captain decided to jettison some of the cheese. They then spotted a corsair coming towards them, which could not be seen on the land, since the ‘Roman river’ was obscured by the bad weather. They soon identified him as a Turkish corsair.
They began to race towards the land, jettisoning some more cheese in order to make good their escape. Once they were in site of the land, the corsair gave up the chase. The ship sailed towards Nettuno, and then continued on its journey, until further storms threated to burst open the hull and forced it to turn back in the direction of Sicily, presumably to run before the wind, and they arrived at the Island of Ponza. The ship was taking on water at this point, and the captain decided to jettison even more cheese. Around the region of Ponza the sea began to calm itself, and on Christmas day morning an Easterly breeze was sent. The captain turned towards Livorno, putting in at Civita Vecchia to make his consolato.
First recorded departure date: 07-12-1669 (Messina)
Total risk: 2058|8|6 Pezza da Otto Total risk to the vessel:
100|0|0 Pezza da Otto Total risk to the freight:
55|6|0 Pezza da Otto Total risk to the cargo:
1953|2|6 Pezza da Otto