There is a man for whom I have great admiration, a man who it could be said lives the dream of every diver, a man who has enthusiasm and a passion for his adventures.
For more years than I like to admit (not wishing to reveal my own age) I have admired the work and enthusiasm of Clive Cussler I am a typical fan who has all his books, and as they say been there got the shirt. My own diving career has seen its own highs and lows yet in 1999 when ill health forced the retirement of my scuba diving exploits I could not have envisaged then how much I would have missed it. As the years passed I have strived to keep abreast of the diving fraternity as it is still something that interests me.
A couple of weeks into the dive season an article appeared in my local newspaper that contained news of a visiting international author who was aboard a vessel searching for the location of the Bonhomme Richard, lost down the coast off Flamborough. Clive even agreed to a photograph outside the newspaper offices.
I sat stunned not realising that someone I had admired had been just across the river and that the green ex- trawler I had seen coming and going from the port was chartered by Clive. I was still recovering from serious surgery and getting over to the boat was not a realistic opportunity. When the expedition was finished and the boat left Whitby I felt disappointed that I was not able to have had the opportunity of meeting Clive in person. Harbour staff members had told him of my existence and mentioned that Clive would have been interested in meeting me. Through friends at the newspaper I was able to obtain a copy of the photograph which I sent to Clive via his PR department along with an introduction of who I was and my interest. A number of weeks passed before the familiar stamped addressed envelope I had enclosed was returned. Inside was the photograph duly signed along with a small letter indicating that he was planning to return in July 2004.
The first attempt to find the wreck site was made in 1978, Clive had his family with him but the expedition was beset with problems. In 1978 there was very little accurate wreck positioning equipment available and the charter vessel itself was by all accounts nothing spectacular. Clive once described it as A decrepit old minesweeper that went down with all hands in the North Sea a few months after we chartered her. She was called the Keltic Lord, but certainly didn't look like one. A second attempt was made the following year and more successful a number of wrecks were located and identified although the Bonhomme Richard was not amongst the wreck sites found. Clive made a short third attempt during a North Sea expedition in 1984 using more sophisticated equipment but the location of the ill fated vessel remained elusive.
I had another bout of complex neurosurgery in January but I was hoping that by July I would be well enough to meet Clive should the opportunity arise? In July I kept vigil looking for the green shape of the charter vessel "Ocean Dancer", when it approached the wharf I looked on hoping to see him on deck. Some days later I sighted Clive on the boat overlooking the decompression chamber that was on the deck. Although not 100% fit I was determined not too miss another opportunity of personally meeting him and took a taxi to the dockside, hoping that he would be willing to see me? I introduced myself and my fears were soon resolved as I was welcomed aboard by Clive. With me I had a copy of a chart made up by a Carl Racey and Andrew Jackson, a dedicated team of deep divers who have experience in the area I knew Clive to be working, Carl and Andrew had gracefully allowed me to permission to share the chart with Clive.
In the forty minutes I was onboard we discussed many things including his current expedition and the novel he was currently working on at that time. He gave me an indication that his next novel may perhaps be the last (although it turned out to be just one of those moments)? I found Clive to be an extremely pleasant man and it seemed we had quite a bit in common, although he is a great deal further up the ladder than I can hope to achieve in this lifetime! Although no longer actively diving I retain a large number of diving colleagues, the team I spoke of earlier might even have information or hold positions that might be of interest to his current search and it was agreed that I would act as the middle man in getting everyone together, a prospect that had me enthusiastically fired up on its own.
The ship left the port a few days later which gave me time to arrange a convenient time and day for Carl and Andrew to be available when the ship returned. Four days later the ship was making its way towards the entrance to the port and having called for the swing bridge (essential to get into the upper harbour) I was alerted to the vessels return by friends in the harbour office. When Carl and Andrew made it through to Whitby we made our way over to the boat where we were greeted by Clive and his son. I was introduced to Dirk Cussler and we listened intently as Carl and Andrew explained their background to Clive before they got to the topic of the search areas and what input they might have to offer. The experience brought back memories of how things used to be, it seemed quite surreal to be sat on the bridge of a ship with Clive and Dirk Cussler as we discussed a major expedition. Since my first craniotomy in 1999 I retain a close interest in the diving scene although at times detached from the daily going on's, yet here it felt remotely like it had been part of a dream (or nightmare). It felt like I was back amongst a part of my life that I never knew I missed so much, it felt like I was part of the team giving me such a buzz. Carl and Andrew left the ship and I stayed with Clive and Dirk talking for sometime on a more personal level. I knew Clive's wife Barbara had passed away and was surprised to learn it was as a result of cancerous brain tumour's. Thankfully my tumour's are benign, although I can understand some of the pain and trauma Clive and his family had experienced.
Clive was due to return to America the following morning leaving Dirk to run the expedition. Clive told me that if the current searches did not bear fruit he is not sure if he will be back, although he did acknowledge finding the location of the Bonhomme Richard would fulfil a huge goal for him!
I swapped signed copies of my latest book with Clive and in parting I commented that it was a privilege to have shared some time with him and Dirk, to which he replied that it was an honour to meet me, (I didn't know what to say)? Clive told me that at the end of this latest attempt the team will have covered a vast search area with the possibility that the wreck site might never be found? If it is successful then I will feel quite proud that I have had my own small part to play? I was so chuffed to have met Clive and Dirk. I was reluctant to do the tourist bit of asking for a photograph, but the camera was burning a hole in my pocket and I was eager not to let the opportunity pass me by. Thankfully Clive did not mind and even asked me to send him a couple of copies, two hours later I left the ship on such a high.
When I was able I went out to photograph the vessel as it made its way in and out of Whitby on the next leg of the searches. I was welcomed aboard for updates although I restricted my visits and did not go aboard each time for fear of wearing out my welcome. Before the team left Whitby for the last time I presented the skipper with a CD-ROM I had put together which contained all the photographs of 'the dancer' I had taken. The disc was really appreciated and I was told that I was welcome aboard anytime! I was sad to see the end of the expedition as it stirred emotions of my time as a diver! The expedition ended with not having firmly located the expedition target, although it did reveal some interesting seabed anomalies. When Dirk confirmed high possibility that they would be returning the following year, I made my farewells and looked forward to getting reacquainted in 2005!
In 2005 Clive underwent a quintuple heart bypass, I sent an e-mail and letter expressing my best wishes for a speedy recovery and my hopes that he would be well enough to get back to Whitby in the summer if indeed there was to be another expedition? I received an e-mail confirming that initially Dirk would be in charge of resuming the search for the "Bonhomme Richard" and that if his health improves enough he was considering joining the ship later to see how they are getting along.
The same familiar "Ocean Dancer" was once again the choice of charter vessel and I was pleased to see it arrive on the 20 th of June. The original plan was to leave on the first leg later the same day and the vessel was a hive of activity as they took on supplies and equipment. I am fortunate that our house overlooks the wharf and I have a good vantage point. Later that day I saw Dirk arrive, boarding the boat with his belongings and knew the boat was likely to leave.
I tentatively called over to the wharf and was quite pleased that not only did the skipper remember me but he could recall my name. I have only had a small part to play but it was nice that someone who probably meets many Clive Cussler fans remembered me! I spoke to Dirk who told me that for the time being the prospect of a long haul flight and then the endless searching was just too much for Clive to contemplate. He did say that if something positive was located, his father would probably be on the next flight over? During my visits to the boat when it was in port I was often invited to go aboard the vessel but I declined the invitation not wishing to get in the way, I also had to consider how to safely get aboard and then back off as my mobility is somewhat restricted.
This years expedition was planned as a six week expedition with contingency plans to extend their expedition should they find their quarry. Unfortunately like the previous expeditions the final resting place of the ill fated Bonhomme Richard proved elusive as ever. Dirk explained that they had pinpointed a number of charted seabed obstructions as well as some un chartered obstructions? The search legs are laborious and consist of towing a side scan sonar behind the dancer as it steams up and down the coast with one of the team sitting there watching the monitor for anything unusual. The sonar device works by sending electronic signals to the seabed which are then bounced back to make up a schematic of the seabed and the obstruction. I have been extremely lucky enough to have been given a number of side scan sonar images and will ask for permission to use one here as an example if possible.
There is a set pattern to the 'search lanes' so that the seabed is adequately covered but if a uncharted obstruction is found or something positive is located then the position is marked by the person on duty. The vessel can return to that position and use the sonar again only this time zooming in on the obstruction so as to try and gain a better / clearer image of the obstruction. If the depth is within safe diving limits then divers can make a dive to ascertain more information. The divers are experienced enough to be able to quickly rule out many obstructions fairly quickly. Dirk explained that it is quite monotonous sitting at the monitor waiting for something to appear. There have been many hours during the search legs when the vessel has steamed along search lanes with nothing showing at all. I have offered my services on a number of occasions and have a lot of experience in the kitchen (Galley) and can wash a mean plate, unfortunately my health is not really conducive to days at sea.
On the 12th June the now familiar green shaped charter vessel arrived in Whitby to begin this years search for the remain of the "Bonhomme Richard". It was a pleasing sight as it meant I could catch up with people I regarded as friends. Like the previous years, I truly hoped that this would be the year that Clive's team would strike lucky. The vessel was quick in taking on the necessary supplies and sailed out on the first leg of the searches that same day. Once in the area selected to begin the search the vessel began the routine of sweeping an area marked out on the chart. I have been fortunate enough to have been shown the chart by both Clive and Dirk on a number of occasions. The chart is decorated with vast areas lined to indicate where previous searches have been carried out. The weather forecast was poor for the latter part of the week and "John" the skipper of the ‘dancer‘ had announced a return to Whitby. Although the conditions within the search area seemed fine, the crew were sensible enough to know that if the skipper wanted to start a return to port that poor weather was imminent. Sure enough during the return to Whitby the conditions did indeed deteriorate and by the time the vessel arrived off Whitby there was a larger swell than expected.
The conditions at the entrance to Whitby were hazardous and the vessel's entrance was delayed by the harbour authority and as strange as it was the crew they had little option but to brave the elements. When given permission the boat came in to the upper harbour going through the swing bridge on the first available opening mooring alongside the wharf for safety. The charter vessel made a number of departures throughout June, July and August and throughout that time yet unlike previous years the searches were hampered by poor weather and this impacted enough to warrant cutting short a search leg enforcing a return to Whitby. This was balanced by spells of good weather which allowed some of the stages to be extended, thereby making up for the lost time the vessel only returning to port when supplies were running short.
The plan was for the expedition to continue through August until such time as any extension was confirmed, unfortunately the return of poor weather forced the charter vessel back to port on the 9thAugust. The weather was expected to be unsettled for the coming week and it decided at that time to terminate this years search. During this search the vessel and her crew covered vast swathes of seabed, and they had accumulated a significant amount of data. Once more a number of unidentified and chartered wrecks were found some of which were interesting enough to warrant diving.
The data was taken back to America where it was carefully scrutinised to see what it may reveal before any decision on further searches was confirmed. The location of the "Bonhomme Richard" was still proving frustratingly elusive as it has done since its loss. Ocean Dancer left Whitby bathed in evening sun bound for Hull for some dry dock work to carried out before she moves on to her next charter, only time would tell if she was to make a return in 2007. I personally hope the vessel makes a return and that with good fortune the location of the wreck site is found!
Clive announced many years ago that he would die a happy man if the Bonhomme Richard is found by NUMA while I still breathe. But, the odds are long against me. My only small satisfaction is that we cleared the fog a bit for the next team to launch another search attempt.
The last two seasons Clive has had competition to find the remains from another yet a US financed search team. Operating out of Scarborough harbour they were using a smaller vessel and operating on a daily basis returning each night to the safe confines of the harbour, which would of course mean sailing to and from the areas chosen for the search grid. This would ultimately impact on the amount of time that was available for actually carrying out searches, although operating a different way they did have something on their side. Their area of searching was restricted to inshore waters and this would if nothing save some of the traveling time. A past member of Clive's team "Peter Reavely" had always believed that the remains lay further inshore and this new team provided just the outlet he desired for his vast knowledge of the Bonhomme Richard transferring allegiance from Clive's team to the Ocean Technology team. The team were seeking financial support from any quarter so as to fund the search and mounted a hectic public relations exercise, giving presentations through the Yorkshire coast. The Ocean Technology team have a very different agenda to Clive and it is their wish should the vessel be found to preserve the remains as best possible whilst making it an educational feature for this part of the coast?
Operating from a smaller charter vessel and working the inshore waters they would have been at a distinct disadvantage in affected more by inclement weather. The Ocean Technology expedition finished shortly after Clive's and they also gathered a significant amount of data to be examined, but being reliant on sponsorship money they will have to evaluate the data they collected before being able to decide if it is financially viable to mount any further searches.
A 2007 report is long overdue sorry, I promise to give it greater attention soon, as a 2008 expedition may soon be upon us. More information about Clive's expeditions can be found on the official "National Underwater Marine Agency" (NUMA) following this link why not visit it after browsing my website? I would also fully recommend a very comprehensive and detailed website that has a plethora of information relating Clive Cussler, follow the button below
Copyright © Colin Brittain 1999 - 2008