All at Sea

Today’s questions focus on abandoned boats and ships. The first question centres on the Mary Celeste, discovered abandoned on December 4th, 1872.

Mary Celeste.
Image Wikipedia

One

When the Mary Celeste was found drifting and abandoned on 4 December 1872, which everyday object—left untouched—helped show the ship had not been ransacked by pirates?
A. The ship’s telegraph terminal
B. A basketball
C. A sewing machine

Two

After HMS Resolute was abandoned in Arctic ice in 1854, how did the United States symbolically return the vessel to Britain after it was recovered?
A. By selling it back to Britain at auction
B. By sailing it back and gifting it to Queen Victoria
C. By towing it to Canada and scuttling it ceremonially

Three

What key items were missing when the abandoned Carroll A. Deering was found aground on Diamond Shoals in 1921?
A. The ship’s logbook and navigation equipment
B. All cargo and provisions
C. The entire foremast

Four

Which country was the ghost yacht Kaz II navigating around when it departed from Airlie Beach before its three-man crew mysteriously disappeared in 2007?
A. Australia
B. Belize
C. Canada

Five

SS Baychimo became a ‘wandering ghost’ of the Arctic, remaining adrift and being seen numerous times after being abandoned in 1931. For how many years did sightings continue?
A. 18 years
B. 28 years
C. 38 years

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later today.

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Author: Scott F

As a retired trivia writer, editor and quiz compiler, I wholeheartedly agree with Bertrand Russell’s quote: “There’s much pleasure to be gained in useless knowledge.” Trivia of all sorts has always fascinated me, and for many years, I’ve written and compiled trivia for various media, including traditional TV and radio quiz shows, newspapers and magazines, apps, and other digital platforms.

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