"Aerial view of Fort Jefferson, Florida in 1993" by U.S. National Park Service , public domain
Dry TortugasWindjammer Wreck |
The Windjammer Wreck at Dry Tortugas National Park (NP) in Florida. Published by the National Park Service (NPS).
featured in
![]() | National Parks Pocket Maps | ![]() |
![]() | Florida Pocket Maps | ![]() |
Dry Tortugas
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Dry Tortugas National Park
P.O. Box 6208
Key West, FL 33041
Windjammer Wreck
In the dark, early morning hours of January 21, 1907, heavy winter wind and waves
buffeted the Avanti. A navigational error while attempting to pass around the Dry
Tortugas contributed to the crew’s misfortune. At 6:44 a.m., thirty-two years to the day
after it was launched, the Avanti struck the Loggerhead Reef. Its iron hull, nearly as long
as a football field, scraped along the jagged coral reef with a sickening sound. Howling
winds muffled the cries of the 19-man crew as they frantically tried to save their dying
vessel. Losing the port anchor in an attempt to slow the ship’s movement, the crew
became desperate. Unsure of the holding power of the windlass, the anchor cable was
brought out of the forecastle and wrapped around the starboard bits.
Taking on water and inching deeper into the rumbling seas, the remaining anchor was
dropped to prevent the vessel from slipping off into deeper water and sinking. Heavily
damaged and stranded, the ship eventually broke apart. Though the crew was saved and
much of the cargo later salvaged, the Avanti was a complete loss.
Today the wreck offers divers and snorkelers a haunting glimpse of a once-proud
sailing ship. The Avanti is also the most complete wreck site in the park, and provides a
breathtaking backdrop for a wide variety of colorful reef fish, coral, and marine life.
Window to the past
Greyhound of the Seas
The Windjammer Wreck, located less than a
mile southwest of Loggerhead Key, has gone by
several names over its long history. Its
association with the famous class of sailing
vessels known as windjammers has led to its
more popular, though less accurate name. The
Norwegian ship was officially known as Avanti
when it sank in 1907.
significant new possibilities. Iron hulls could be
built much larger and cheaper, had greater
capacity than wooden vessels of the same
dimensions, and were far more durable.
Importantly, the use of iron contributed to
higher profits, a crucial factor in the highly
competitive shipping industry of the late
nineteenth century.
The Avanti is an important example of large
sailing vessels built relatively late in the age of
sail. It combined smooth, traditional
architectural lines with newer, more durable
building materials. The development of iron
hulls in the mid-1850s offered ship designers
Even these structural breakthroughs could not
postpone the inevitable. With the birth of steam
propulsion, the age of sail was rapidly coming
to a close. Large sailing vessels like the Avanti
were some of the last tall ships built during the
romantic age of sail.
Built in 1875 in Liverpool, England, the threemasted vessel was originally named Killean.
Large for its day, the Killean had a length of
261.4 feet, a beam of 39.3 feet, and a draft of 17.5
feet. The Killean had a gross tonnage of 1,862
tons. In its prime the vessel combined impressive size and speed to compete with rival shipping companies carrying cargoes to worldwide
markets.
Exploring the Site
The Killean was sold in 1894 to the French
shipping company A.D. Bordes and Fils.
Renamed Antonin, it became part of a large fleet
of ships used in the shipment of nitrate
fertilizers from Chile to European farmers. After
seven years the Antonin was sold for a final
time. The new owners, Acties Avanti of Norway,
renamed the vessel Avanti. The aging Avanti
was used in its final years as a tramp carrier
seeking cargoes wherever available. While in
Pensacola the vessel was damaged and stranded
during the October 1906 hurricane. On January
9, Avanti departed Pensacola bound for Uruguay carrying a load of lumber. It would prove
to be Avanti’s final voyage.
The Avanti is one of many wreck sites within
Dry Tortugas National Park. These islands,
shoals, and reefs have been the scene of nearly
300 shipwrecks. The proximity of these reefs to
The wreckage and its associated coral are
fragile. Please do not touch! A mooring buoy is
provided for anchoring. If you choose to drop
anchor, pick a location that is a safe distance
the nearby shipping lanes of the Gulf of Mexico
has made them a natural “ship trap.”
from the wreck site. Make sure that you anchor
on a sandy bottom that is free of coral. Fishing is
prohibited at the Windjammer Wreck site, as it
is within the Research Natural Area.
The wreck site lies in approximately 18-21 feet of
water. The site is in two main wreckage fields.
The bow portion, approximately 110 feet in
length, lies in a generally east-west direction.
It includes the bow, midships, and foremast.
The second field, also roughly 110 feet in length,
lies in a generally north-south direction. This
second field is composed of midships, stern,
mizzen, and main mast structures.
E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A™
Please remember that all shipwrecks, artifacts,
and coral are protected within the park. You are
the key to preserving this and other important
sites. Only with your help will future
generations be able to enjoy the park’s rich
maritime heritage.
01/14