The Canada-built replica of HMS Bounty, featured in two Pirates of the Caribbean films as the "Black Pearl", suffered a grim fate, after it became stranded on Sunday night about 90 miles southeast of Hatteras, North Carolina, near the eye of the hurricane Sandy. The HMS Bounty left Connecticut last week bound for Florida, hoping to outrun Hurricane Sandy. The ship sank, according to Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, at 12:45 UTC Monday October 29th 2012, and two crew members, including Capt. Robin Walbridge, were reported as missing. The Coast Guard rescued 14 of the 16 crew by helicopter at 6:30 am Monday. 

HMS Bounty

HMS Bounty, also known as HM Armed Vessel Bounty, was a small merchant vessel purchased by the Royal Navy for a botanical mission. The ship was sent to the Pacific Ocean to acquire breadfruit plants and transport them to British possessions in the West Indies. That mission was never completed, as disagreements between Lieutenant William Bligh and his acting Sailing Master, Fletcher Christian, led to a revolt by half of the crew and their seizure of the vessel on 28 April 1789, leading to the Mutiny on the Bounty. The ship was burned on 23 January 1790, by the Royal Navy. Then Luis Marden discovered the remains of the Bounty in January 1957.

For the Marlon Brando 1962 film, a new vessel was constructed in Nova Scotia, the Bounty. For much of 1962 to 2012, she was owned by not for profit organisations whose primary aim was to sail her and other square rigged sailing ships, and she sailed the world to appear at harbours for inspections, and take paying passengers, to recoup running costs. For long voyages, it took on volunteer crew, those volunteers are adventure seekers who treat the trip as a holiday.

The Black Pearl

HMS Bounty was used in the Pirates of the Caribbean film series to dep