The King William Banks are a series of sand banks 14 mi (12 nmi; 23 km) Northeast of Ramsey, Isle of Man. The King William Banks take their name from the stranding, in 1690, of King William III whilst he was en route from the River Dee to Carrickfergus.A story relates that on June 10, 1690, it being a spring tide, King William embarked on his ship in an area of the River Dee near Hoylake referred to as the King's Gap. Edward Tariton, Master of the James, of Liverpool, piloted the King's vessel on its voyage to Carrickfergus. At approximately 04:00hrs the following morning (June 11) the vessel grounded on a sandbank off the Point of Ayre, Isle of Man, during a period of low water (the bank being uncharted).The King's vessel was aground for approximately 1 hour.