# Where was the ship when she was abandoned, and where did Briggs think she was? · Mary Celeste > Three answers have been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. Three are still possible. Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/mary-celeste/questions/QST0D00ZW9M0578/where-was-the-ship-when-she-was-abandoned-and-where-did Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:58:05+00:00 --- **0** # Where was the ship when she was abandoned, and where did Briggs think she was? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·Part of [Why did ten people leave a sound, provisioned ship in a small boat?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/mary-celeste/questions/QST0D00ZW1T1XWM/why-did-ten-people-leave-a-sound-provisioned-ship-in-a-small)·3 answers·0·0 following **Three answers, none ahead** None 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]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D00ZKGC40E9/the-story-of-the-mary-celeste). Whether the slate position was right decides whether Briggs abandoned within sight of land or far from it. ## Answers 3 [**A chronometer error placed the ship about 120 miles west of the slate position; Briggs expected land that did…** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/mary-celeste/answers/ANS0D0101DP709W/a-chronometer-error-placed-the-ship-about-120-miles-west-of) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: 1 for Still possible [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/mary-celeste/answers/ANS0D0101XA4BCE/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible [**The slate position was correct; the ship was near Santa Maria and was abandoned there or soon after.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/mary-celeste/answers/ANS0D0100Y21T58/the-slate-position-was-correct-the-ship-was-near-santa-maria) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: 1 for Still possible ## History 1. 1942[Fay puts forward: the slate position was correct; the ship was near Santa Maria and was abandoned there or soon after.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D00ZKGC40E9/the-story-of-the-mary-celeste) 1. 2007[Blumberg puts forward: a chronometer error placed the ship about 120 miles west of the slate position; Briggs expected land that did…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D00ZM002VMM/abandoned-ship-the-mary-celeste) 1. 2007[Blumberg: richardson's drift model shows the passage is possible from the slate position.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D00ZM002VMM/abandoned-ship-the-mary-celeste)For: The slate position was correct; the ship was near Santa Maria and was abandoned there or soon after. 1. 2007[Blumberg: macGregor's reading of Solly-Flood's notes on the log and of the course change north of Santa Maria.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D00ZM002VMM/abandoned-ship-the-mary-celeste)For: A chronometer error placed the ship about 120 miles west of the slate position; Briggs expected land that did… 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/mary-celeste/questions/QST0D00ZW9M0578/where-was-the-ship-when-she-was-abandoned-and-where-did%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/mary-celeste/questions/QST0D00ZW9M0578/where-was-the-ship-when-she-was-abandoned-and-where-did%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/mary-celeste/questions/QST0D00ZW9M0578/where-was-the-ship-when-she-was-abandoned-and-where-did%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/mary-celeste/questions/QST0D00ZW9M0578/where-was-the-ship-when-she-was-abandoned-and-where-did%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/mary-celeste/questions/QST0D00ZW9M0578/where-was-the-ship-when-she-was-abandoned-and-where-did%23add-source) Where it fits Mary Celeste [**Why did ten people leave a sound, provisioned ship in a small boat?** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/mary-celeste/questions/QST0D00ZW1T1XWM/why-did-ten-people-leave-a-sound-provisioned-ship-in-a-small)Key question · most likely briggs believed the ship was sinking or about to explode, and near land, and ordered a temporary abandonment… **Where was the ship when she was abandoned, and where did Briggs think she was?** You're here · 3 answers, inconclusive [ Ask a question under this one ]