We’re less than 30 days away from our 2026 Conference at Indian River State College (be sure to check out our jam-packed Agenda posted below)! If you plan to attend and have not yet purchased your ticket, please do so ASAP! We have over 100 guests attending!
To purchase a FULL TICKET, click HERE, or a SINGLE DAY PASS, click HERE.
For MEMBERS ONLY TICKETS ($335), please email Lenore Wetzel for the members-only link to purchase.
Not a 1715 Fleet Society member? BECOME A MEMBER TODAY — JOIN US HERE!
Sunday, January 11, 2026
Admission is $2. Free for children under 6.
10:00 AM-1:00 PM — McLarty Treasure Museum Visit, Hosted by Fleet Society members, Richard Mellin (Member #230) and Mark Culver (Member #222)
1:00-6:00 PM — Meet and Greet/Reception, FREE! OPEN TO THE PUBLIC! The Heritage Center, 2140 14th Avenue, Vero Beach, FL
Bring your coins and artifacts to be examined by experts! We will have a number of vendors and authors available to sign books. These authors include Allen Balogh, John Brandon, Alex Kuze, Steve Singer, Noel Wells, and Charlie Winn. Major bookseller Alan Workman will have a wide array of shipwreck, treasure, and related books from his vast and impressive inventory. Steve Hodges and Noel Wells will be available to evaluate coins and artifacts that are brought in by the local community. Representatives from the Treasure Coast Coin Club and Mel Fisher’s Treasures (in Sebastian, Florida) will be present. Our Regional Director, Treasure Coast, Jim Wilson, will have videos for sale.
Monday, January 12, 2026 — Conference: Day 1
7:00-8:15 AM — Registration/Check-in
7:30 AM — Continental Breakfast
8:15-8:30 AM — Welcome and Introduction, Ben Costello, 1715 Fleet Society President
8:30-9:00 AM — Dedication to Dr. Eugene Lyon
9:00-10:00 AM — Charlie Winn, Buyer Beware: The Value of a Pedigree
10:00-11:00 AM — Julian Sancton, The San Jose and its Relationship to the 1715 Fleet
11:00-11:15 AM — Break
11:15 AM-12:00 PM — Daniel Sedwick, Arce’s Doubloons: A Die Study of the Colombian Gold Cob Coinage of Assayer Arce in the name of Charles II, 1692-1714
12:00-1:30 PM — Lunch (on your own)
1:30-2:30 PM — Sal Guttuso, Unique and Notable Discoveries from the 2024 Salvage Season
2:30-3:30 PM — Richard Mellin, Chinese Export Porcelain
3:30-3:45 PM — Break
3:45-4:45 PM — Jim Sinclair, Unique Objects from the 1715 Fleet and Other Associated Wrecks
4:45-5:00 PM — Closing Comments
Tuesday, January 13, 2026 — Conference: Day 2
7:00-8:15 AM — Registration/Check-in
7:30 AM — Continental Breakfast
8:30 AM — Opening Remarks
9:00-10:30 AM — Sam Wilford, Plate Fleet Collections Held By the Florida Division of Historical Resources
10:30-10:45 AM — Break
10:45-11:45 AM — Taffi Fisher, In the Beginning …
11:45 AM-1:30 PM — Lunch (on your own)
1:30-2:30 PM — Brent Brisben, 1,000 yd Stretch of Beach
2:30-2:45 PM — Break
2:45-4:45 PM — Ben Costello, An Afternoon with the Real Eight, A vintage interview with Real Eight members, recorded in March of 1997 by the Indian River Community Library in Vero Beach.
4:45-5:00 PM — Closing Comments
5:30 PM — Dinner Meeting at Captain Hirams, FOR MEMBERS (and their guests) ONLY!
Not a 1715 Fleet Society member? BECOME A MEMBER TODAY — JOIN US HERE!
This year, for Fleet Society members and their guests, we have arranged for the dinner meeting to be held at Captain Hirams in Sebastian, Florida. This dinner meeting will be very special — we are holding a silent auction and a private viewing of a portion of the recently recovered treasure that has been the subject of national media attention (special thanks to 1715 Fleet – Queens Jewels, LLC) for MEMBERS (and their guests) ONLY. Sal Guttuso, Operations Manager for 171 Fleet – Queens Jewels, LLC, and Mike Perna, Captain of the Mighty Mo recovery vessel, will be available to discuss the recovered treasure. The silent auction will contain many interesting items, both shipwreck and non-shipwreck-related.
Ticket price for members will be $35 ($45 for guests of members). The dinner meeting will start at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 13, 2026. For those attending, payment can be made by cash or check, in person, at the Conference.
Wednesday, January 14, 2026 — Conference: Day 3
7:00-8:15 AM — Registration/Check-in
7:30 AM — Continental Breakfast
8:30-9:00 AM — Opening Remarks
9:00-10:30 AM — Bob Evans, The Smaller Treasures of the S.S. Central America
10:30-10:45 AM — Break
10:45 AM-12:00 PM — Jeff Garrett, The Great Kentucky Hoard
12:00-1:30 PM — Lunch
1:30-2:30 PM — Russell Augustin, Loss of the S.S. Pulaski and the S.S. North Carolina
2:30-3:30 PM — Sal Guttuso and Ben Costello, The Archaeology of Fort Capron, its Artifacts, Location, and Lost Payroll
3:30-3:45 PM — Break
3:45-5:00 PM — Barry Clifford, The Wydah and its Relationship to the 1715 Fleet
5:00 PM — Closing Comments, Conference Gifts
