About Revisions 1733 Capitana el Rubi Tavernier, FL Max Depth: 26-30ft/8-9m Entry Type: Boat 4/26/2011 6:43 AM

On Friday the thirteenth in July 1733, the New Spain Fleet left Havana harbor on its return voyage to Spain. The convoy, commanded by Rodrigo de Torres aboard the newly built La Capitana, El Rubí, consisted of three other armed galleons, and eighteen merchant naos along with other smaller vessels carrying the products of Mexico.
The following day, after the fleet had sighted the Florida Keys, the wind shifted abruptly from the east and increased in velocity. Captain-general Torres, sensing an approaching hurricane, ordered his captains to turn back to Havana and sail as close to the wind as possible, but it was too late. By nightfall, all or most of the ships had been driven westward while being scattered, sunk or swamped along eighty miles of the Florida Keys. Only one ship, the 500 ton Nuestra Señora de Rosario, made it safely back to Havana.
The shipwreck is no longer visable having sunk into the sand. If you are lucky, you may stll see some ballast rocks or timber after a good storm.