I have moved this topic as I feel it would be better here as it more relevant to projects in place now.

During the first of the searches the weather turned to poor much to frustration of the crew. The skipper informed them he was making for port, although the conditions on site seemed okay. The skipper was proved right however, as the vessel encountered an increased swell on its approach to Whitby. The vessel had to wait for a suitable bridge opening before it could enter the harbour entrance and one of the crew told me that the dancer had to manoeuvre up and down the coast awaiting a suitable bridge opening.

I was told by a crew member of the problems they had getting into the harbour and part of his comments were they had their backsides kicked steaming up and down. He did however have an amusing little anecdote to it though. It would seem that whilst waiting to get in the crew not needed on the bridge were down in the saloon watching the world cup on television. However the signal to the television was blocked from direct access to the mast when sailing in one direction, this meant that they had to wait until the vessel’s location was such that the signal was returned. It is amusing to think that whilst there was no signal a goal could have been scored much to the disgust of the crew :o

With some improvement to the weather conditions the boat shipped out on Friday the 23rd on the 1500 bridge. The weather was not to last for long and on the Sunday we were greeted with a day in which the drizzle lingered all day and if it was like this it would not have been any better off the coast. It was therefore not too surprising to see the vessel back on alongside the wharf on Monday 26th. I had hoped that they had found something to report and that they had returned to port in order to take on the dive team. :blink:

I met with Dirk in town and he told me that the search was hampered by poor visibility and lobster pots intent on catching the side scan sonar. Some improvement in the weather meant the vessel was able to leave again on Tuesday on the 1800 bridge. The following weather was good and the vessel should have had the opportunity to cover some ground.

I recently acquired an e – mail from the project manager for the competition, which contained an attachment of a report recently published in the INVESTOR’S BUSINESS DAILY. It seemed to reveal some interesting information on their plans. I am of course biased towards Dr. Cussler’s efforts but I have reproduced some of the interesting information from the e – mail below.

The information above implies that this is the latest search, although Dr. Cussler’s has already been in full swing even before they get their feet wet so to speak. The way the wording is put, it would seem that this new consortium is confident of finding the wreck on the first leg of its search? I was quite surprised by the huge figures involved in funding this search and to some degree it seems to give little credit to the amount of time and expense that Dr. Cussler and his teams have already given? I am quite surprised by talk of recovering the remains when the search has not even begun, although I do appreciate that they have to cost as though they plan on doing so.

I do like they way they are pitching spin off activities such as science and education activities from the expedition, developing lessons for high school students and providing virtual field trips and online teacher workshops.

I do like the comments relating to the simulation models to be used alongside physical laws, as well as tidal and wind data from the period and times and locations given by eyewitnesses. This is nothing new, as I know Dr. Cussler’s teams have already carried out such investment and research, as “Peter Reavley” the defector well knows! Dr Cussler did however, manage a small mention in the report, albeit at some small degree of sarcasm in which it credits him as one of those who has been (among those who’ve hunted for the Bonhomme Richard for decades).

The experts indicate that the BHR was nearly shot in half as it traded broadsides with the Serapis at point-blank range and that they do not know how much of the ship lies intact on the sea floor. Sorry guys but that is old news.

Peter Reavley (the defector) puts himself forward as the expert on the battle, and is already discussing the salvage of the BHR as well as retrieving one of its guns? I was told that one of the reasons given for this mans turn of allegiance is that he is adamant the remains lie much closer inshore than Dr. Cussler thinks and his beliefs that Dr. Cussler was searching too far offshore.

I have been reliable informed that the new search team are working from a much smaller charter vessel on a catamaran working from Scarborough harbour. I will post a photograph when it arrives. The team is also planning to only work through the day, which seems rather limiting. The vessel will have to steam daily from the harbour just to get into the search area and they will not be able to cover that much ground before they have to consider running for base?

Dr. Cussler’s team leave Whitby and work until rations run low or the weather is too poor to continue, more importantly they work on a constant basis day and night!

The weather is extremely good at the moment and long may it last for us all (well excluding this new team).

Be in touch soon

whitbycolin snor:
Dive Whitby
cb@eskside1.freeserve.co.uk

Thanks Colin! w: I always love your updates. th:

Great Colin, Thanks again for the update. Here's to hoping the weather stays good for Cussler's crew th:

I thought it was great that they were watching the world cup, although this is now a very soar subject for me :(

Haha, too bad we can't cast a spell like in a cartoon where there would be a black cloud of rain just over the competition's ship. I think it's silly that they're going to waste all that fuel driving to and from port each day, too. Thanks for the update!