The Adriatic Affair: A Maritime Hit and Run
The French ship Le Lyonnais sank after being rammed by the American vessel Adriatic on on November 2, 1856.
The American sailing vessel Adriatic collided with the French steamship Le Lyonnais on November 2, 1856, off the coast of Nantucket in what can best be described as a maritime hitand-run. Adriatic’s captain, Jonathan Durham, rendered no aid and left the passenger steamship to fend for herself. 114 people died in the collision and in the days that followed.
In August of 2024, Jennifer Sellitti, her partner Joe Mazraani, and a team of explorers discovered, dived, and identified the wreckage of Lyonnais on the eastern edges of Georges Bank. The book includes an epilogue that chronicles what it takes to chase shipwrecks far from shore in the often-punishing North Atlantic, the search for and discovery of Le Lyonnais, and how it changed their lives.
Author of "The Adriatic Affair: A Maritime Hit and Run off the Coast of Nantucket" and part of the team that discovered the wreck of Le Lyonnais, Jennifer Sellitti joins me as my guest.
This episode is also available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/n_pvh7oj-xs
Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano.
Original theme music for Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs by Sean Sigfried.
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