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Wreckage of Ghost Ship Kestrel Emerges on Embaré Beach in Santos (SP). The Old English Sailboat Has Been Stranded for 130 Years.
What seemed to be just another calm morning at Embaré Beach in Santos (SP) surprised bathers and residents. The Kestrel sailboat, known as the “ghost ship,” has emerged from the waters after 130 years stranded on the shore.
The phenomenon occurred in recent days due to the strong low tide, completely revealing the wreckage of the vessel.
According to the City Hall of Santos, the area has been cordoned off and signposted to prevent curious onlookers from getting too close and having accidents.
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Monitoring of the area has been constant since 2017, when the first fragments of the English sailboat Kestrel reappeared in the sand at Embaré Beach, near Canal 5.
Photographer Captures Rare Moment of the “Ghost Ship”
Journalist Gerson Rodrigues was one of the first to document the reappearance of the Kestrel on the morning of Wednesday (10/22/2025). He was walking along the beach when he noticed the remnants of the naval structure visible on the receded tide.
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“The tide was very low. It was very visible, very apparent today, really cool,” reported the photographer. On social media, he shared the image with the caption: “Today it made its presence known.”
The image quickly went viral among residents of Santos and sparked curiosity about the past of the vessel that has rested under the sand for over a century at Embaré Beach.
Sailboat Kestrel: The Story Behind the Shipwreck
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According to historical records, the Kestrel was an English sailboat that sank in 1895 off the coast of Santos.
The tragedy occurred during a storm, at a time when the vessel was without a captain on board. Directionless, the ship was swept by the waves until it ran aground on the beach.
A tugboat attempted to rescue the ship, but the sea conditions prevented any success.
Since then, the Kestrel has remained hidden beneath the sand, resurfacing only during exceptionally low tides.
Research Reveals Details of the Ship’s Structure
In 2017, after the first recent sightings, a team of geologists and researchers was called in to identify the vessel.
Through surveys and sonar use, a six-meter-long metallic object was located inside the hull.
Initially, it was speculated that it could be a boiler or even a cannon, but both hypotheses were dismissed.
The obtained images showed that the bow of the ship (front part) is facing São Vicente, while the stern (rear part) is close to the Canal 5, although not crossing its structure, built decades later, in 1927.
A painting taken in London depicts the Kestrel sailboat in its original form, highlighting the size and grandeur of the vessel that now rests under the sands of Santos.
Previous Sightings of the Ghost Ship in Santos
Since 2017, the ghost ship Kestrel has been seen on other occasions—especially during more intense low tides.
Documented sightings occurred in July 2018, August 2019, and July 2020, always evoking fascination and caution among residents.
To ensure safety, the City Hall of Santos maintains surveillance of the area and reinforces warnings that the presence of bathers is prohibited in the wreckage site.
Additionally, environmental and historical monitoring seeks to preserve what remains of this piece of maritime history.
Historical Heritage Beneath the Waves of Embaré
With each appearance, the Kestrel sailboat reaffirms its role as one of the greatest mysteries of the São Paulo coastline. More than just a simple ghost ship, it is a living fragment of naval history, a symbol of the relationship between man and sea in one of Brazil’s most important port cities.
As the waters ebb and flow at Embaré Beach, the wreckage of the Kestrel continues to intrigue generations, keeping alive the legend of a sailboat that, even stranded for 130 years, insists on reappearing to remind us of the past of Santos (SP).
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