Wreck of HMS Association

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1459-ton 90-gun man o' war, built Portsmouth, 1697. 165ft x 45ft. Flagship of Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell. Cargo: A vast treasure in chests of gold and silver coins and plate put on board in Gibraltar by British merchants trading in Spain and Portugal. More chests contained government funds for war with France, Sir Cloudesley's own wealth and many regimental funds and silverware. Estimated value today:£5 million. Position: 49 51.73N; 06 24.50W. Depth: 5-43m.
Sunk: 22 October, 1707, by navigation error when she ran into the Scilly rocks in the dark. Sir Cloudesley and crew of 650 lost. More than 1000 lost from other ships following flagship.
Diving: Is on the Gilstone Ledges, but only with permission of salvor-in-possession Jim Heslin of the Isles of Scilly Underwater Centre. 30,000 coins recovered since relocation of wreck by sport divers in 1967. Nearly 1000 coins found each year, although many are very worn. Most discovered in crud near iron cannon among boulders in gullies, which can plunge to more than 40m. Stern has yet to be found. Beware rough water and big swells on Gilstone.
Launch: St Mary's, Isles of Scilly.