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| January - February 2010 Newsletter |
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200 Greene Street , Key West, Florida 33040
~ 305.296.6533 phone ~ www.MelFisher.com ~ 305.296.2220 fax ~ |
| January - February 2010 Newsletter
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"From the Desk of the
Barefoot CEO"
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 The winter winds have arrived, and we’re using this forced downtime to do some much-needed maintenance on the workboats. But rest assured, our timing is such that we always have one boat available to take advantage of calm seas and continue the search for the treasure of the Atocha’s Sterncastle.
We’re looking forward to 2010, and I am pleased to announce our preliminary involvement with a new shipwreck that could bring both excitement and prosperity to us all.
We are in the process of researching another shipwreck that is off the Florida coast in international waters and could be laden with treasure.
This is all I can say at this point in our studies, but the research process will continue through March, when more details will be available.
Until then, think warm, calm thoughts, stay tuned, and remember, Today’s the
Day!
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Newsletter Questions or Comments:newsletter@melfisher.com
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| Winter winds bring much-needed boat repairs
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Winter winds and shifting currents hamper the treasure search, but provide time for the necessary boat repairs and maintenance projects that allow the quest to continue in calmer waters.
Our two 90-foot work boats, Magruder and Dare each will be on dry land at some point this winter, but only one at a time.
“The boats are only able to go out for short periods of time during this time of year,” said Gary Randolph, vice president and director of operations at Mel Fisher Treasures. “So they’ll dash out and then dash back in as the weather permits.
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But the treasure team always has one workboat ready and equipped to take advantage of good weather and continue the search.
The crew will haul the Magruder out of the water this month.
“We need to power wash the bottom and do a full inspection of the hull to look for necessary repairs,” Gary said, adding that the rudder shaft needs repairs and the bottom will be power washed and repainted.
A clean and repainted boat bottom is essential for maximum fuel efficiency, he said, so the crew is eager to get the growth and barnacles removed from the hulls.
Once the Magruder is back in the water, the Dare will have her hull cleaned and repainted.
“And then if there is still money left over, we’ll try to put two rebuilt engines into the Magruder,” Gary said. “Ideally, we’d like to get that done before the good weather returns.”
Fortunately, the treasure-hunting equipment, including the large “mailboxes” that excavate the sandy ocean bottom need no repairs this year.
“The money makers are all in good shape this season,” Gary said.
The prime treasure hunting – and finding – months are May through October when the wind is calm, the seas flat and the water clear.
“Each boat is out on the water at least 50 percent of the time during those months,” Gary said.
As the crews eagerly await warmer weather, they are busy preparing for the upcoming treasure season and ensuring their vessels and equipment are in prime condition for the profitable and golden spring.
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| Investor Profile: Lorraine and Phil Nichol
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Lorraine and Phil Nichol have turned an unbearable tragedy into a connection with their lost son and the ongoing search for the remaining treasure of the Atocha and Santa Margarita.
The couple lost their 18-year-old son, David, in a car accident in 2000, and later started meeting with a psychic medium to communicate with him, Lorraine said.
“Then one of our daughters, about three years ago, discovered that she has a gift as a medium, and she began receiving messages from David,” she said. He gave her a message that we were supposed to do something involving something called the Atocha, but she had no idea what it was.
”The Nichols recalled seeing a television program about the Nuestra Senora de Atocha and its priceless cargo on The Travel Channel but hadn’t thought much about it until David started communicating with his sister.
“He was telling our daughter that we had to do something, and the sooner the better,” Lorraine said.
So the family found online information about Mel Fisher’s Treasures and became investors. They did not know the story of Mel, who also lost a son. They did not know of the 16-year, all-consuming search. They did not know of the ongoing search for the Sterncastle portion of the galleon.
“We weren’t familiar with anything, and had only been to Key West once for a few hours on a cruise ship,” Lorraine said. “But we got involved and invested, and then three or four months later, the team found all the pearls from the Santa Margarita.”
The Nichols received some of the pearls in their division the first year and, and the messages from their son continue.
“He keeps saying we have to stay in and keep joining,” she said.
The family has since moved from Littleton, Colo., to Port St. Lucie, Fla., and they became certified SCUBA divers.
“We got certified right after we started investing, so some of our very first dives were with the Mel Fisher dive boats. We’ve now been down to Key West three or four times, and we love it,” Lorraine said. “Our son loved the ocean and the water, but we really can’t think of any other connection he would have had with Mel Fisher and the Atocha."
”Lorraine laughed at the thought of Mel, ever the salesman, pitching his treasure hunt to David “on the other side.”
“That could very well be,” she said laughing.
Lorraine and Phil now have been in town for the past two Division Week celebrations, and they enjoyed all the events, camaraderie and sense of adventure.
“That group does such a good job,” she said, with high hopes for more discoveries.
While the Nichols can never bring their son back, the search for the Atocha treasure has provided a connection to him, and the coins the Nichols wear around their neck provide a constant reminder of that connection.
Today’s the day.
Posy and pearls
Amethyst and gold
Forever you and I
Our precious love to hold.
-Astrid Alauda-
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Article by Jim Sinclair
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| Amethyst Ring
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In late September of 2009 Capt. Andy Matroci and the crew of the JB Magruder recovered what is believed to be the only amethyst jewelry item ever recovered from the wreck of the Nuestra Senora de Atocha. This beautiful ring set with an amethyst stone. The stone weighs 4.7 grams and is 25mm across at it widest point the amethyst itself is a 6mm table cut gem which a typical sort of cut for the time period.
Amethyst has been used as gemstones and other ornamental objects for thousands of years. The early Greeks believed that amethyst would protect one from the effects of drunkenness when consuming alcohol. A possible explanation for this unusual virtue being given to amethyst is that when water is poured into a cup fashioned of amethyst, it would have the appearance of wine yet could be drunk without experiencing wine's normal effect. In ancient cultures, amethyst amulets were worn as antidotes against poison, to dispel sleep, as protection against harm in battle and to sharpen one's wits.
The legend of the origin of amethyst comes from Greek myths. Dionysius, the god of
intoxication, was angered one day by an insult from a mere mortal and swore revenge on the next mortal that crossed his path, creating fierce tigers to carry out his wish. Along came unsuspecting Amethyst, a beautiful young maiden on her way to pay tribute to the goddess Diana. Diana turned Amethyst into a statue of pure crystalline quartz to protect her from the brutal claws. Dionysus wept tears of wine in remorse for his action at the sight of the beautiful statue. The god's tears stained the quartz purple, creating the gem we know today.
Part of the history of amethyst comes from the naming of biblically significant stones. In the Old Testament and around the middle and late 1300 (B.C.) twelve stones had been chosen to be representative of the twelve tribes of Israel. (Exodus 28: 17-21) Among these stones amethyst was chosen as the gem representing the tribe of Dan one of the sons of Joseph. Amethyst is also mentioned as one of the twelve stones adorning the breastplate of the high priest Aaron (Exodus 39). Notice the tendency towards the number twelve - this became the first association of a particular semi-precious gem with each month that had been recorded hence today each month in the year is represented by a specific jewel. The original breastplate of the High Priest was said to be made by Moses in mid 1200 (B.C.) according to divinely inspired instructions he received during forty days in the wilderness.
In medieval times, amethyst was still credited with protecting one from the effects of drunkenness, both of the cup and also from the intoxicating effects of being in love. The wearing of amethyst was also thought to protect soldiers from harm and give them victory over their enemies, and assist hunters with the capture of wild animals.
Purple has long been considered a royal color so it is not surprising that amethyst has been so much in demand during history. Fine amethysts are featured in the British Crown Jewels and were also a favorite of Catherine the Great and Egyptian royalty. Amethyst, transparent purple quartz, is the most important quartz variety used in jewelry.
Because amethyst was thought to encourage celibacy and symbolize piety, amethyst was very important in the ornamentation of Catholic and other churches in the Middle Ages. It was, in particular, considered to be the stone of bishops and they still often wear amethyst rings.
Amethyst ranges in color from pale lilac to deep purple. The pale colors are sometimes called "Rose de France" and can be seen set in Victorian jewelry. The deep colors are the most valuable, particularly a rich purple with rose flashes.
So was our ring being used for avoiding drunkenness by one of the wealthy on the Atocha or could it have been to increase courage in the face of danger? We may never really know - but it is a fascinating object to speculate over.
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