Whydah

The Whydah, Gally (or Whydah-Gally) was a slave ship that, after being captured by pirates, became the flagship of pirate captain "Black Sam" Bellamy. The ship was originally a merchant vessel built in England in 1715. Its primary purpose was the transatlantic slave trade. In February 1717, the Whydah was captured by Bellamy and his crew off the coast of Cuba.

Bellamy then outfitted the Whydah as a pirate ship, arming it with 28 cannons. It became a symbol of his piratical success and was instrumental in his reign of terror along the Atlantic coast of North America and the Caribbean. The ship carried a vast amount of treasure, accumulated from numerous captured vessels.

Tragically, the Whydah met its end during a fierce storm off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, on April 26, 1717, just months after its capture. Most of the crew and treasure were lost. For over 300 years, the wreck remained undiscovered until its location was identified in 1984 by underwater explorer Barry Clifford. The discovery of the Whydah and its artifacts has provided invaluable insights into pirate life and the maritime history of the 18th century.