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The wreck of the Half Moon recently was nominated to become a Preserve by Miami diver Terry Helmers. Located off Key Biscayne near Miami, the wreck of the Half Moon lies in shallow water on a sandy bottom. Historical research suggests that this sail-powered yacht was known as Germania when built in Germany in 1908 for the Count Bohlen und Halbach. The two-masted, 366-ton steel schooner-yacht was extremely fast and raced at Cowes, England and Kiel, Germany. Siezed as a prize of war in 1914 while at Cowes for the annual regatta, the yacht was taken to New York and subsequently made her way to Miami where she was renamed Half Moon and used as a floating saloon until sunk in the early 1930s. A team from the Florida Bureau of Archaeological Research, in partnership with the University of Miami and the Metro-Dade County Division of Historic Preservation, will investigate the site, prepare a site plan, and complete historical documentation. A formal proposal to create the Preserve was submitted to the public for review and to solicit input on establishing the new preserve.
