description Ocracoke Shoals Overview
Located in North Carolina, these shifting sandbars near Ocracoke Inlet are historically notorious for grounding vessels, including Blackbeard's ship.
help Ocracoke Shoals FAQ
Where are the Ocracoke Shoals?
They are shifting shallow areas around Ocracoke Inlet on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The inlet connects the Atlantic coast with the waters of Pamlico Sound.
Why have the Ocracoke Shoals been dangerous for ships?
The inlet contains shallow bars and channels that can change as sand moves with tides, currents, and storms. Historical and modern accounts both describe vessels grounding while trying to navigate the inlet.
What is the connection between Ocracoke Shoals and Blackbeard?
Blackbeard, whose real name was Edward Teach, fought Lieutenant Robert Maynard near Ocracoke Inlet on November 22, 1718. Maynard's vessels ran aground on the shallow bars, while Blackbeard's sloop Adventure was operating in the inlet. [National Park Service](https://www.nps.gov/caha/learn/historyculture/blackbeard-edward-teach.htm)
Was Blackbeard's Queen Anne's Revenge wrecked at Ocracoke?
No. The 1718 battle at Ocracoke involved the Adventure, while the presumed wreck of Queen Anne's Revenge lies off Beaufort Inlet in North Carolina. The two vessels are connected to Blackbeard but to different locations. [North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources](https://www.dncr.nc.gov/blog/2023/12/06/lt-robert-maynard-b-43)
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