Real Pirates

09-04-2025

ECU Pirate Sports.

I live in Greenville, North Carolina, home to East Carolina University, which is also the home of the Pirates!  So it is only natural that I would be gravitated to this intriguing story. I find it fascinating, and I hope you do as well.

Real Pirates Of The Whydah.

The story of Real Pirates begins with the Whydah, launched in London in 1715 as a heavily armed transport ship. Initially built for trade, the vessel carried merchandise and slaves across the Atlantic. At over one hundred feet long, it could travel fourteen miles per hour, making it advanced for its time. With up to twenty-eight cannons, the Whydah was built to defend its cargo.

Black Sam Bellamy’s Capture.

In 1717, Captain Lawrence Prince commanded the Whydah near Cuba when pirate Samuel “Black Sam” Bellamy gave chase. After three days, Prince surrendered. Bellamy claimed the Whydah as his new flagship, arming it with thirty cannons below deck and more on top. Prince was spared and even rewarded with gold, silver, and the Sultana. From there, Bellamy and his 146 men began their reign.

A Ruthless Pirate Campaign.

Over the following months, Bellamy’s crew captured and looted more than fifty ships. Some historians believe he steered north to Maine, though his personal goal was Eastham, where his mistress Maria Hallett lived. Still, fate turned against him. In April 1717, a violent storm caught the Whydah near Nantucket as it plundered a wine ship.

The Storm That Ended All.

Winds roared at seventy miles per hour, waves rose to thirty feet, and the overloaded ship could not escape. Caught near shore, the Whydah smashed into a sandbar and broke apart. By morning, bodies and wreckage covered the beach. Only two men survived. Testimony later revealed that 180 bags of gold and silver had been divided among the crew.

Barry Clifford’s Discovery.

Centuries later, Cape Cod native Barry Clifford pursued the legend of Real Pirates. A teacher turned underwater archaeologist, he raised $6 million from 300 investors. After nine years, he found the wreck in 1984, making the Whydah the only fully verified pirate ship ever recovered. More than 200,000 artifacts surfaced, including jewelry, weapons, and clothing, revealing a refined pirate lifestyle.

From Myth To Museum.

Today, the Whydah Pirate Museum in West Yarmouth, Massachusetts, is open daily from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm., allowing you to experience the Whydah’s story firsthand.

The Legacy Of Discovery.

The story of Real Pirates proves history can be rediscovered beneath the sea. Clifford and his team continue exploring shipwrecks around the world, from Africa to Haiti. In November of 2024, the Discovery Channel show Expedition Unknown with Josh Gates aired an episode titled “Diving for America’s Pirate Loot”, diving on the wreckage of the Whydah Gally. While exploring  the Whydah Gally has been Clifford’s passion, he still is a student of history at heart and is quick to remind others, “It’s not what you find, but what you find out.”

If you have any questions or comments, please don't hesitate to contact me. Additionally, please explore the rest of my blog and website to see if any of this information can be helpful to you.

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