Shipwrecks of the Outer Banks: Dramatic Rescues and Fantastic Wrecks in the Graveyard of the Atlantic [Hardcover]

More than 6,000 ships have met their doom in the waters along the North Carolina coast, weaving a rich history of tragedy, drama, and heroics along these picturesque beaches. Men have lost their lives and fortunes, and heroes have been made where the combination of mixing currents, treacherous coastline and shifting underwater sandbars spells disaster for even the most seasoned sailor. These are the stories of daring rescues, tragic failures, enduring mysteries, buried treasure, and fascinating legends.James D. Charlet leads tours, educational programs, and speaking engagements and contributes to local and national media with articles on Outer Banks and nautical history. James taught North Carolina history for 24 years and worked with the Wright Brothers National Memorial. He has been involved with the Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station Historic Site & Museum for the past 21 years and was the Site Manager of the Historic Site for 10 years.Along North Carolina’s coastline is a land barrier known as the Outer Banks. For many years people who have lived there pursued the dangerous profession of commercial fishing. Others flock to the Outer Banks to enjoy the beautiful beaches.

There is great beauty on the Outer Banks, but sailors know the other reputation of the region: “The Graveyard of the Atlantic.”The sea floor on and near the Banks are strewn with shipwrecks along with hundreds of deaths. All of this eventually led the United States government to seek ways to try to stop the carnage. One of the ways would eventually become the U.S. Coast Guard. The history of the Banks is replete with tales of heroism, and death. James D. Charlet has gathered a very good selection of some of these events. Those who are interested in the sea and dramatic sea rescues will find much of interest in Shipwrecks of the Outer Banks: Dramatic Rescues and Fantastic Wrecks in the Graveyard of the Atlantic.James brings to life the U.S. Life-Saving Service: the heroes al#Ø