|
05 March 2008......
David Mearns - Search Director, The Finding
Sydney Foundation
The most anxious time for any search is the first sonar
trackline through the search area. This is when you learn whether
the area you are searching consists of either rough geological
terrain or a flat smooth seabed. You also learns for the first time
whether the weather and sea conditions will allow you to tow the
sonar in the direction and speed your desire without difficulty.
Complications due to rough geology and/or uncooperative weather and
sea conditions can make all the difference to whether a search ends
successfully, or in failure.
As
our sonar was tracking through the initial section of our first
trackline (actually No7 as per our line-naming convention) I started
to get very concerned that luck wasn't to be on our side. The seabed
geology wasn't that awful, but it certainly wasn't going to be easy
to detect a shipwreck amongst all the geological formations that
cluttered our screens. The Geosounder's watch officers were also
finding it difficult maintaining the perfectly straight trackline we
require at the slow speeds of 2.5 knots. The combination of the two
difficulties, amongst a number of other technical issues, made the
first few hours searching very uneasy.
As
the sea is ever changing, however, so was our fortunes and a couple
of hours later the seabed started to get very flat and featureless
(ideal terrain for shipwreck hunting) and the Geosounder began
crabbing down the line at an angle that maintained good steerage as
well as speed. It always takes some time to iron out the kinks and
for a search to take on a pattern and rhythm of efficiency and this
is what first tracklines are for. We can only hope that our good
fortune continues although experience tells me that there are many
twists and turns to come.
John Perryman - Senior Historian, RAN (Observer)
Today's dawn followed a successful night of trials on the
Williamson sonar equipment which had been successfully deployed
during the previous night and recovered in the early hours of the
morning.
A
visit to the bridge and a quick study of the chart revealed that we
were now steering north-west towards our search box at around about
8 knots. We expect to arrive in the area where the epic battle
between Sydney and Kormoran is believed to have taken place at
around about midnight.
Throughout the mobilization and during the voyage there have been
many discussions amongst the team concerning the Sydney and Kormoran
as our international friends have come to learn more about this
tragic episode of Australia's Naval history.
|
