BajaNomad

Search for the ERIK

gonetobaja - 12-9-2011 at 09:45 AM

Im sure you have all heard of the ERIK and the tragedy that happened in July. These videos are the un-cut footage of the latest operation. As this tragedy happened in an area where I work and specialize, I was asked to come along as the guide and operator for the mission.

These are the videos of the operation, it will give you a good idea of what it takes to actually do this kind of thing. Thank you to the Mexican Govt, and Military for their help in this joint operation.


Day 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-dEeFd6uVk&feature=share

Day 3 part I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87OzqF7Gfkg

Day 3 part II

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meDkp8ZXPbc

Day 3 part III

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sQTmR0qgJU

Day 4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRulaipG4WA

More to come.

Dale

[Edited on 12-9-2011 by gonetobaja]

durrelllrobert - 12-9-2011 at 10:08 AM

I'm sure that you were more bored filming this than I was watching it, but .... Good Luck with your continueing search. PS: what is water depth there and where does side scanning radar come from?

gonetobaja - 12-9-2011 at 10:43 AM

Water depth in the search was from 140 to over 300. The area is much larger than you would expect.

Side Scan sonar uses accoustical signals to create a picture through sound. The "towfish" or underwater sonar torpedo is towed behind the boat on a grid system via GPS to map, track, and record the entire bottom. Should a large object appear its sound signature will appear on the computer screen with its coordinates.

The gear is very expensive and difficult to operate. Our operator has years of experience and is one of the best in the world.

Finding something like this is a process of elimination. As our sonar spec said..."first we find out where its not...then we find it."

D

goldhuntress - 12-9-2011 at 11:10 AM

I hope you are able to locate it soon. I'm sure the families of the missing couldn't begin to express their gratitude to the search team for their efforts. I'm wondering who is funding the search. Who's boat and equipment is it? Is the plan to keep searching until you find it or is there a limit of time, funds, etc? Best of luck to you and the team.

gonetobaja - 12-9-2011 at 11:46 AM

Goldhuntress,

Im not able to disclose any other information on this operation other than what is in the video and that our search depths were from 140 to over 300 ft.

I can tell you that the weather was not very nice to us.

GTB

gonetobaja - 12-9-2011 at 02:16 PM

Day 4 part II

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Em_i6GXFdQE

capt. mike - 12-9-2011 at 02:29 PM

good going Dale!
i see you on TV a lot, discovery CH history CH etc. Glad you're still on the Cortez making things happen.
hope we can hook up again sometime.
good luck.

gonetobaja - 12-9-2011 at 03:01 PM

Mike, I was thinking of you on this trip. It would be good to have a plane with a good dirt strip pilot on standby.

D

David K - 12-9-2011 at 03:03 PM

What happened to your web page Dale? Some months ago people were seeking you out, I recall...

gonetobaja - 12-9-2011 at 03:30 PM

Been working as a guide for TV production companies and just kind of let the site go. Ive been keeping on the low for a while but still have the fishing guide services out of Puertecitos. Naty is my partner. When I heard about the tragedy I felt like as part of the area I should help. After all these years of good times in baja its the least I can do. The people I know in San Felipe and south want to have this boat found.

D

David K - 12-9-2011 at 03:36 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by gonetobaja
Been working as a guide for TV production companies and just kind of let the site go. Ive been keeping on the low for a while but still have the fishing guide services out of Puertecitos. Naty is my partner. When I heard about the tragedy I felt like as part of the area I should help. After all these years of good times in baja its the least I can do. The people I know in San Felipe and south want to have this boat found.

D


Good of you for sure... We were on Shell Island when the wind hit... blew us real bad, destroyed our camp... We drove on south the next day. We had no idea (nor did anyone at Gonzaga) about what was going on that morning... We learned about it a couple days later at home on the news.

gonetobaja - 12-9-2011 at 06:17 PM

Day 4 part III

Last part of day 4 and the morning of day 5

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fh9c_GaU36U

yellowklr - 12-9-2011 at 08:32 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by gonetobaja
Goldhuntress,

Im not able to disclose any other information on this operation other than what is in the video and that our search depths were from 140 to over 300 ft.

I can tell you that the weather was not very nice to us.

GTB


Oh give me a break like this is some kind of secret operation............??? its a search for a boat on the bottom of the ocean.......I can't disclose anymore information-Yeah whatever

[Edited on 12-10-2011 by yellowklr]

capt. mike - 12-10-2011 at 09:20 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by gonetobaja
Mike, I was thinking of you on this trip. It would be good to have a plane with a good dirt strip pilot on standby.

D


stay in touch on that.
you know how to reach me.

gonetobaja - 12-10-2011 at 11:04 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by yellowklr
Quote:
Originally posted by gonetobaja
Goldhuntress,

Im not able to disclose any other information on this operation other than what is in the video and that our search depths were from 140 to over 300 ft.

I can tell you that the weather was not very nice to us.

GTB


Oh give me a break like this is some kind of secret operation............??? its a search for a boat on the bottom of the ocean.......I can't disclose anymore information-Yeah whatever

[Edited on 12-10-2011 by yellowklr]


dont get so upset

If you know something you would like to share go ahead. Im not at liberty to discuss whos vessel and gear, and who funded it. I also can not discuss who was involved, other than the Mexican Govt, and US consulate.

Cant figure out why thats so hard to grasp.

As far as figuring out that its a boat at the bottom of the ocean, you knocked that one out of the park...good job.


:?:

surfer jim - 12-10-2011 at 05:19 PM

Well said GTB;)

gonetobaja - 12-12-2011 at 10:53 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by surfer jim
Well said GTB;)


Thanks Jim!

I put this together for another site to help explain some of the stuff we were doing. This vid is about the Sonar and GPS system and how we use it and some clips of the search area from the boat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LO_5lf4Cd7c

Cypress - 12-12-2011 at 11:11 AM

Have searched for wrecks in the past. You work a grid, back and forth. It's a slow process.;)

capt. mike - 12-12-2011 at 12:28 PM

wish we had you and that gear when Gary and Peggy my neighbors went down after they did volunteer flights for the hurricane relief a few years ago. Most of us had a pretty good idea of where they went in based on some facts, radio chatter and a position report.

there was a sizable reward from the family that to my knowledge was never claimed - it required some physical evidence of the plane, the correct plane.

It is still at Davey Jones locker but wonders if it scattered by now on the floor with currents.

gonetobaja - 12-12-2011 at 01:03 PM

A plane going down would be even harder to find than a ship. Its possible to find anything with enough time.

They move so fast that you can go 10 miles between keying up the comm and letting it off. It would make for a big grid thats for sure.

capt. mike - 12-12-2011 at 03:51 PM

ha!! i ain't that fast - for sure.
i cover a mile every 20 seconds at full cruise.

plenty of time to yak in 20 seconds.
bet you'd find me Dale!! :biggrin:

gonetobaja - 12-13-2011 at 08:59 AM

Dont talk about goin down man, your freakin me out. Spent time this year flying with Aeromedevac and REACH helicopter. Saw some bad medevac stuff. Maybe we need to set up a network of people that have all the resources so in case of an accident we can deploy faster with all the gear we need?

bufeo - 12-13-2011 at 10:55 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by gonetobaja... Maybe we need to set up a network of people that have all the resources so in case of an accident we can deploy faster with all the gear we need?


Now there's a good idea if it hasn't been implemented already.

Allen R

bajamedic - 12-13-2011 at 06:44 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by gonetobaja
Dont talk about goin down man, your freakin me out. Spent time this year flying with Aeromedevac and REACH helicopter. Saw some bad medevac stuff. Maybe we need to set up a network of people that have all the resources so in case of an accident we can deploy faster with all the gear we need?


Gonetobaja, were you in Redding or on the coast? JH

gonetobaja - 12-14-2011 at 09:30 AM

Concord

D

ha! no plans for that anytime soon

capt. mike - 12-15-2011 at 06:31 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by gonetobaja
Dont talk about goin down man, your freakin me out. Spent time this year flying with Aeromedevac and REACH helicopter. Saw some bad medevac stuff. Maybe we need to set up a network of people that have all the resources so in case of an accident we can deploy faster with all the gear we need?


taking it slow and easy - no push.

gonetobaja - 12-16-2011 at 09:33 AM

Ok, final word came out from the Families that the search did not find the ERIK. Those of us involved dont plan on giving up.

Dale

gonetobaja - 12-18-2011 at 03:35 PM

Video of final day. Check in with Mexican Military, then hard ride north. Good video of how bad the sea can get out there. We were operating a 27 ft boston whaler with twin 225s. took us 6 hours to get from Gonzaga to Puertecitos. The big rogue waves you could see coming from a distance, we managed to get one meduim on one film near the end. This is the same place that looks like a lake most of the time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYH5bCcg470