The voyage of the Saint-Jean Baptiste

A shipment of white chestnuts, rice and pasta loaded in Finale Ligure and destined for Marseille. The voyage began on 26 January 1720 when the vessel departed from Finale Ligure under the command of the Genoese captain Bernardino Malvasia. On 1 February, the vessel briefly stopped in Nice, where it received a health patent certifying a crew of seven, before resuming its westward journey toward Marseille. On 2 February, around midday, as the vessel approached Cap Camarat, it encountered a strong west wind that severely impeded its progress and forced the crew to seek refuge at the nearby cove of Bonne Terrasse. The vessel attempted to enter the inlet by navigating between two rocky outcrops near the cape, but struck submerged rocks and was critically damaged—its hull splitting open and the vessel quickly filling with water. It was then decided to deliberately beach the vessel on the shore of Bonne Terrasse, where the crew and local helpers immediately began efforts to salvage as much of the cargo and equipment as possible. When officials from the Admiralty Tribunal of Saint-Tropez arrived the following morning, they found the vessel still inundated and the salvage operation underway. The captain declared the absence of formal bills of lading but provided documentation confirming ownership and recent purchase of the ship. He also listed the vessel’s defensive armaments, which included pedreros, muskets, grenades, and mascoli. Salvage efforts continued under official supervision and the captain made a testimony to verify the circumstances of the shipwreck and the extent of the losses.