Case file · Cryptid
The royal yacht Osborne's sea monster
On 2 June 1877 officers of the royal yacht HMY Osborne, off Cape San Vito in Sicily, reported a large animal with a smooth head and long flippers, and a ridge of fins along a 30-foot back.
1877 CE · 38.30, 12.70 · status: account
The account
Commander Hugh Pearson sent an official report to the Admiralty, and Lieutenant Haynes made drawings that were printed in The Graphic. It is one of the few sea-monster reports filed by a serving naval crew through official channels.
The sceptical view
Researchers have proposed a large whale, or a whale shark, seen in poor light at an angle.