John Veber has been wreck diving since 1972 and into underwater
photograhy
since 1976, photographing wrecks in all the Great Lakes. He has had
photographs
published in books about Long Point and Lake Erie, numerous newspapers
and archeological reports. Being an amateur archaelogist and a member
of
the Ontario Marine Heritage Committee since 1985, he has participated
in
numerous wreck surveys over the years which included an underwater
photography
project in the high arctic.
Today the
Trade Wind sits in 120' of water, with a slight list to port. All three
masts have fallen to the port side. The bowsprit has been pulled away
but
both anchors are still cated. Peering into the collision hole on the
starboard
hull, you can see the cast iron stoves sticking out of the silt. Moving
aft, you can see the offset centerboard winch and main cargo hatch with
a stove in it. Passing the broken mizzen mast you see the intact rear
cabin
with two forward entrances. The cabin structure continues to the
transom
with no open back deck. The ships wheel is in a cockpit in the rear of
the cabin. Viewing the Trade Wind from the stern is most impressive.
She
rises about 15' off of the lake bottom with the whole rudder exposed.
Looking
up at the transom, her 25' beam makes her look really big. Gliding
across
the deck with 60' visibility, you get a true sense of what a magestic
vessel
she once was.
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