The Norwegian bark Coquimbo (originally the Cochrina out of Cardiff,) was a typical lumber ship of the time. Built in Glasgow in 1876, 1,015 gross tons, and measured 204.8' x 33.5' x 20.6'. She went aground off present day Ocean Ridge on Jan. 31, 1909. Was a rumor she was intentionally grounded. Most all her lumber and materials were salvaged and sold at auction and some of the old buildings in the Boynton Beach area were recipients of the lumber. The ship's bell resides in one of the local churches now which historians Tom Gidus & Janet DeVries Naughton verified (see attached photo).

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We did a magnetometer survey back in 1997 in the area off of Briny Breezes around an old galleon type anchor to see if it was simply lost or wreckage was nearby.  We concluded it was simply lost & likely used to help a grounded vessel get un-grounded many years ago. We continued to survey to the north until the mag went off the charts. Looking into the clear water about 350 yards off the beach of Ocean Ridge we spotted remnants of a sailing ship with the bow, two masts and other wreckage now exposed. Doing some research and finding a photo of the Coquimbo stranded off Boynton, we concluded it was the same vessel. It was soon re-buried under the sand for a number of years until uncovered again in 2013. The shifting sand soon buried it again though. Attached photos are all from video I took in 1997. Last time we checked in 2020, it was still hidden under the sand. Underwater photos: Steve Singer