Wreck of the San-Agustin. The survivors returned to Acapulco in the ships boats.
1595

Watercolor 14" x 21"


On her annual voyage back to Acapulco from Manila, the treasure galleon SAN AGUSTIN was ordered to look on the American coast for any sites that would provide secure anchorage for ships in need of repairs or provisions. Drakes Bay, partly sheltered from the prevailing northwesterlies by Point Reyes, was considered a possibility. The ship was anchored off the beach and all but a skeleton crew went ashore to survey the site. A sudden storm from the south caught them by surprise, and the small crew left aboard was unable to keep the ship from dragging onto the beach. She was a total loss. All aboard died, but the people on the beach made it safely back to Acapulco in the ship’s boats. Pieces of pottery from her cargo have been found in the sands of Drakes Bay.