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- #1
Thread Owner
In my Internet browsing over breakfast, I ran across this posting from Tony Kopp to the late Bob Moran. Mr Kopp posted it publicly on May 30, 2024, so I see no breach of trust in re-posting it for the purpose of discussion:
"
Hi Bob,
I don't know if you remember me, Tony Kopp, with the Schooner "Illusion". I think we met in 1984 in Key West.
I would love to read your book. how can we make that possible? I live in Switzerland.
I would also like to ask your advice: Below is a short description of an unfinished treasure project from long ago. Should I proceed with that?
All the best
Tony Kopp
Ven_Gold_shippment
In 1986-87, with Mel Fisher, we were working on the salvage of a shipwreck off the coast of Venezuela. It was a secret operation for many reasons.
It was so secret, that Mel asked Deo to leave the office when we were talking about this operation. Deo did not appreciate that, so often we went outside to talk. I remember standing under a large fig tree or are they called Banyon trees? reporting to Mel about the trips.
I remember on the one trip, Kim Fisher went along and we shared a cabin. I think it was on the ”Tamaqua”.
On the “Nadir”, Mel came along himself, but left early, because there was no alcohol on board, except “sour wine” (as Mel said), with the meals.
On the “Stena Mayo” Pat Cline documented the operation, but most of the video tapes were confiscated by the Venezuelan Navy, when we got arrested. I am not sure if Kim Fisher was on this trip.
Something about this operation must have transpired to other people at Treasure Salvors.
Do any of you know of anything?
I am fairly sure the treasure is still lying on the bottom of the ocean. About 500,000,000 in solid gold bars.
Today I woke up to the morning songs of strange birds. Sydney, Australia. The air is filled with the smell of the ocean. Very different from the fresh mountain air of Switzerland I am used to.
Why does that remind me of a day, almost exactly 40 years ago, when we were sailing off the coast of Venezuela in our sailing boat “Illusion”? Little did we know then about the sinking of the vessel with the gold just a few miles away. And yet, this gold has haunted us till today.
Where did the gold come from?
Where was the gold going to?
Who owned the gold?
Why did the vessel sink?
Many, many more questions.
After 40 years of research, I know a few answers. But I am still searching for the rest of the answers. Can anybody help me? Does anybody want to help me?"
So there you have it... and that is all that I know.
Please discuss !
"
Hi Bob,
I don't know if you remember me, Tony Kopp, with the Schooner "Illusion". I think we met in 1984 in Key West.
I would love to read your book. how can we make that possible? I live in Switzerland.
I would also like to ask your advice: Below is a short description of an unfinished treasure project from long ago. Should I proceed with that?
All the best
Tony Kopp
Ven_Gold_shippment
In 1986-87, with Mel Fisher, we were working on the salvage of a shipwreck off the coast of Venezuela. It was a secret operation for many reasons.
It was so secret, that Mel asked Deo to leave the office when we were talking about this operation. Deo did not appreciate that, so often we went outside to talk. I remember standing under a large fig tree or are they called Banyon trees? reporting to Mel about the trips.
I remember on the one trip, Kim Fisher went along and we shared a cabin. I think it was on the ”Tamaqua”.
On the “Nadir”, Mel came along himself, but left early, because there was no alcohol on board, except “sour wine” (as Mel said), with the meals.
On the “Stena Mayo” Pat Cline documented the operation, but most of the video tapes were confiscated by the Venezuelan Navy, when we got arrested. I am not sure if Kim Fisher was on this trip.
Something about this operation must have transpired to other people at Treasure Salvors.
Do any of you know of anything?
I am fairly sure the treasure is still lying on the bottom of the ocean. About 500,000,000 in solid gold bars.
Today I woke up to the morning songs of strange birds. Sydney, Australia. The air is filled with the smell of the ocean. Very different from the fresh mountain air of Switzerland I am used to.
Why does that remind me of a day, almost exactly 40 years ago, when we were sailing off the coast of Venezuela in our sailing boat “Illusion”? Little did we know then about the sinking of the vessel with the gold just a few miles away. And yet, this gold has haunted us till today.
Where did the gold come from?
Where was the gold going to?
Who owned the gold?
Why did the vessel sink?
Many, many more questions.
After 40 years of research, I know a few answers. But I am still searching for the rest of the answers. Can anybody help me? Does anybody want to help me?"
So there you have it... and that is all that I know.
Please discuss !
