The Tercentary of the Naval disaster of 1707 was commemorated by a special series of events on the Isles of Scilly (and elsewhere) in October 2007. On the 22 October 1707 the British naval fleet, under the command of Sir Cloudesley Shovell, was returning from Gibraltar to Portsmouth. Due to a combination of bad weather and the inability of mariners to accurately calculate their longitude, or east/west position, the fleet was unaware that it was closing on the Isles of Scilly until it was too late.
The Association (flagship), Eagle, and Romney struck the Gilstone Ledges on the Western Rocks and, of the more than 1,400 men on board the three ships, only one man was saved. The St. George and the Firebrand also struck rocks, but managed to get off. Nevertheless, damage to the Firebrand was severe and she too soon sank, with the loss of a further 23 of her 45 complement.
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