The voyage of the Il Prudence

A shipment of linen, textiles, coffee, rice, and other goods loaded in Alexandria on behalf of various Moorish merchants and intended for Sousse, Tunis, and other unnamed ports along the Barbary coast. The vessel departed Alexandria on 21 February 1719 and after sailing without incident for several days, the ship encountered a violent storm on 25 February, approximately 30 miles south-southwest of the island of Kasos, with strong west/north-west winds and stormy seas. The stern was struck by powerful waves, damaging the rudder housing and planking and allowing water to enter the magazine and bilge. To prevent possible sinking, the crew executed an emergency jettison of twelve bales of linen, thread, and other merchandise, four 'quintales' of Cairo coffee, seven cases of rice, two cannons with carriages, twelve oars, four water barrels, numerous small casks, and a heavy mooring cable. After the storm, the crew discovered that the bilge was filling rapidly and had to be bailed continuously using a pump. The captain steered the vessel to Capo Carnigi on the island of Karpathos to seek refuge, arriving the same evening. The next day, when attempting to lift anchor, the cable broke and an anchor weighing three 'quintales' was lost. The ship then sought refuge in the port of Karpathos where it remained for eight days due to persistent contrary winds and where a second anchor was lost. The vessel resumed its voyage on 7 March, sailing westward and reaching Malta on the night of 22 March, where the captain made a formal testimony for the damages and losses sustained.