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Where was the ship when she was abandoned, and where did Briggs think she was?

Asked 26 Oct 2026 by ·Part of Why did ten people leave a sound, provisioned ship in a small boat?·3 answers·0·0 following
Three answers, none aheadNone is ahead yet. See what would settle it.

Where it stands

Three answers have been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. Three are still possible.

Why it matters

The slate puts Santa Maria six miles off at 8 a.m. on 25 November; the ship was found 400 miles east nine days later⁠[1]. Whether the slate position was right decides whether Briggs abandoned within sight of land or far from it.

Answers 3

Evidence: 1 for
Still possible
None of these.
Not tested enough to call either way
Evidence: none yet
Still possible
Evidence: 1 for
Still possible

History

  1. Fay puts forward: the slate position was correct; the ship was near Santa Maria and was abandoned there or soon after.
  2. Blumberg puts forward: a chronometer error placed the ship about 120 miles west of the slate position; Briggs expected land that did…
  3. Blumberg: richardson's drift model shows the passage is possible from the slate position.For: The slate position was correct; the ship was near Santa Maria and was abandoned there or soon after.
  4. Blumberg: macGregor's reading of Solly-Flood's notes on the log and of the course change north of Santa Maria.For: A chronometer error placed the ship about 120 miles west of the slate position; Briggs expected land that did…
  5. Asked on this site
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