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10th March Search Report
David Mearns - Search Director, The Finding
Sydney Foundation
We have now been at sea for 8 days and are still being plagued by
technical problems and unseasonably rough weather. A search line we
started early this morning had to be aborted because I didn't feel
we were getting good coverage of the seafloor. it is most important
that whichever areas we search have been covered completely and that
no gaps exist. Like a decorator painting a ceiling we call these
gaps 'holidays' and they are to be avoided at all costs.
Apparently we owe the high wind and rough sea conditions we are
experiencing to the West Australian Summertime Heat Trough, which
has been sitting over the coast of WA for days. Because this low
pressure trough is stationary it has been preventing more favourable
high pressure systems from moving in over our location.
Counting Tropical Cyclone Ophelia, this is the second weather
disturbance common to WA that we have experienced in our 8 days. We
still have sufficient time to achieve our objectives and find HMAS
Sydney, but I think the weather (and technical) gods owe us a break.
John Perryman - Senior Navy Historian (Observer)
It was with high hopes that our SM30 was redeployed late last night
as we commenced our next south-north run through the search box.
Unfortunately the gremlins of the previous few days continued to
affect the sonar equipment which again had to be retrieved during
the forenoon so that fault finding could take place.
As
an observer on this expedition I can sense the frustration of all
concerned as they work long hours in difficult conditions to try and
solve these vexing technical problems. When we sailed from
Geraldton, most of us were strangers with aspects of the ship as we
were. Such is the way of the off-shore industry. What I have
observed throughout the trials and tribulations of the last week,
however, is the welding of our small band of men and women into a
functional ship's company who remain committed to pressing on with
the task in hand in spite of these unbelievable set-backs.
As
work continues on the SM30, and with the SM60 still available as a
back-up, I remain confident in the team's ability to get back into
the water soon and continue the search.
Glenys McDonald - Director, The Finding Sydney Foundation
(Observer) Everyone on board the Geosounder is to working together, and
supporting each other to get things happening. This is my first sea
voyage, so everything is a new experience. My day begins with a nice
hot, one armed shower, as I hang on to ride the moderate swells we
are continuing to get. Then it is doing the shuffle to the dining
room, where I am pleased to see it is not only me that stands with
feet wide apart, with one hand on the cupboard as we serve ourselves
from the incredible and delicious menu choice. Peter the day cook
and Jo the night cook are rated tops, and personally I have never
been so spoiled in my life. My day is filled with discussing research issues with David and
John, learning as much as possible about the technology we are
using, relaxing with a good book and having many chats with the
crew. There is a great laundry on board and even a gym, but so far I
have only done a bit of weights. I continue to write up my daily
diary for the Finding Sydney Foundation and usually hit the sack
about 10pm. I am sharing a cabin with Kelly from the Williamson &
Associates team and she is on the night shift. I sleep like a baby
in my darkened bunk being rocked by the waves. |
