The voyage of the La Galère Aimable

The vessel was anchored off Barcelona on 11 April 1719, awaiting dispatch papers before proceeding on its intended commercial voyage. The captain had gone offshore to attend mass and complete consular formalities, leaving the vessel secured at anchor. The ship faced a strong east (levant) wind around noon that intensified into a violent gale with stormy seas. The weather deteriorated so rapidly that no boats could safely leave the port, and the captain was unable to return to his ship. The vessel remained at anchor until around 17:00, when the strong winds snapped the bower cable, resulting in the loss of the anchor. With no means to hold its position the vessel was driven by the storm out of the safe anchorage and began to drift southwestward toward Salou. The captain observed the events from shore and immediately departed by courier in an attempt to intercept and rejoin his ship by land.