The Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association Inc.
Australian Coast Guard Auxillary
Operation Albury
Extract From "Crusader'S" Log
Monday, September 9
0728 - Under way. Both motors okay. Speed slow on difficult section of river.
0758 - Increased speed to full cruising speed. Weather excellent.
0920 - Approach Lock 6, waiting for gates to open.
0931 - In Lock 6.
0955 - Through Lock 6.
1015 - Rendezvous with helicopter. To wait for approach into Renmark. Refuelled. Used 21 gls.
1143 - Under way. Did manoeuvres with helicopter, filmed from cliffs.
1226 - Alongside, one mile from Renmark.
1240 - Under way.
1250 - Alongside Renmark. Refuelled. Used 24 gls. Dist 83 mls in 3 hrs 15 min. Speed 25.5 mih. Bob von Bertouch serviced remote controls. Not completely okay but now effective and safe to manoeuvre on both engines.
1500 - Under way.
1515 - In Lock 5
1532 - Through Lock 5. Conducted high speed manoeuvres for ABC Channel 2.
1555 - Completed exercise. Resumed cruise.
1650 - Approach to Berri.
1700 - Alongside Berri. Refuelled Used 10 gls. Distance 28 mls in 1 hr 20 min. Weather was glorious all day. Bob von Bertouch continued servicing motors during evening. Akoonah's performance has been poor, and plugs were found to have excessive fouling. Bob gave David a tin of Kiekh for engine cleaner.
Tuesday, September 10
0730 - Battery flat. Could not turn starter on port motor. Bob von Bertouch removed rectifier and changed over with new one. However, still no go with new rectifier. Finally apparently located wiring fault. Battery has not been charging due to fault in wiring the rectifier.
0850 - Warmed motors. Both now okay.
0858 - Under way.
0920 - In Lock 4
0927 - Through Lock. Weather overcast, with high winds.
1120 - Long wide reaches of river now, and head wind is creating a truly shocking chop. Boats are getting a very severe pounding, impossible to maintain speed.
1158 - In Lock 3
1211 - Through Lock 3
1335 - Alongside Nakierie. Refuelled. Used 32 gals. Dist 102mls (24 mih)
1545 - Cast off Nakierie. Wind moderating and better planning water.
1617 - In Lock 2. David reports engine cleaner has worked like a charm; Akoonah is literally flying now.
1715 - Cadell Ferry. Conditions are now ideal and we are making excellent time.
1730 - Alongside Morgan. Both motors have performed well. Refuelled. Used 14 gals. Dist 41 mls in 1 hr 30 min. Speed 27.3 mih. We must have been hitting at least 30 most of the way.
Wednesday, September 11
0805 - Under way. Both motors started okay. Weather looks good.
0910 - In lock 1, at Blanchetown.
0927 - Through Lock 1. Max Nulty, from Lawton Agencies, joined squadron in an open runabout. Wind is now increasing, and we are running into a difficult chop. Max Nulty, at rear is having a difficult and wet time of it.
1015 - Alongside Swan Reach. Max Nulty looks drenched. Conditions are worse than yesterday, and we will not try to run at much more than 12 mph. Refuelled.
1030 - Starboard motor would not start. Max checked motor, and found no compression at all on one cylinder. He thinks a piston may have burnt out. I shall have to travel on port motor only.
1035 - Under way. Akoonah and FV58 have gone on ahead. Max is staying with me. With port motor only, I am getting only about 4 knots in this high head wind and appalling chop.
1055 - Making only about 4 knots. At this rate, I shall not reach Mannum until after midnight, and shall be a day late at Murray Bridge. After being ahead of schedule all the way, it's better to think that the whole operation is going to fall on its face in the very last lap.
1100 - Decided to take a risk and try running the starboard motor.
1105 - Starboard motor running, apparently on three cylinders. Slight increase in speed.
1110 - Getting 10 - 12 knots now.
1115 - Starboard motor, being "carried" by the port motor, is worming to its work. Nowhere near best performance, but we must be getting close to 20 knots. Long sheltered reach is giving good progress.
1130 - River now turning westward, and we are running into a truly fantastic chop. Wind is screaming down between high cliffs. Barely making headway. Worried about Max Nulty who is now out of sight astern, but with a very sick motor I must keep her moving into the chop.
1145 - Max is all right, but from the looks of the spray he must be half drowned.
1435 - Alongside Mannum. Immediately I cut the port motor, the starboard motor quit cold, and would not start again. Max will ring Lawton Agencies, who will ship a new motor to Murray Bridge and - if I get there - will change over motors during the night. I think that engine cleaner might fix it, but David has used all his supply and Max has none with him. Engine cleaner will be sent to Murray Bridge, and Max will try that first. No fuel available at Mannum. Used 24 gls. But still have 18 which should get us to Murray Bridge. Dist. 59 mls in 3 hrs 43 min. Speed 16 mih 1545 - Under way. Starboard motor would not start; missing on one cylinder, but after we had been under way with the port motor for some time, she came in. As before, she is slowly warming to the job, being carried by the port motor.
1600 - Now at something like 20 knots.
1652 - Alongside Murray Bridge, Refuelled. Used 8 gls. During this run we have been accompanied by Juanita, (R.S. Carr) and Gideon (F. Johns) Distance 24 mls. In 1 hr 03 mins. Speed 23.5mih. Trip average 1209 mls in 53 hrs 48 mins. 22.2 mih).
Thursday, September 12
0030 - Came aboard. Max Nulty and mechanic from Lawton Agencies have put Kiekhafer engine cleaner through both motors and reported that Crusader is raring to go. We will be accompanied by Juanita (R.S. Carr) and Gideon (F. Johns). Juanita is a 19ft San Juan, and Gideon is a Bell Bay of similar length. Both are powered by 100hp Mercury single installations. Local people have expressed misgivings about crossing the lake, and I have advised the Press that if conditions are unfavourable and we are advised against it, we shall terminate the voyage at Murray Bridge. I have left the final decision up to Paddy Hogg, although I have some misgivings, as I feel Paddy will decide to go at all costs. What is worrying is the presence of Frank John's wife and child aboard Gideon. Paddy's plan is to reach the point before daybreak, and get across the lake before the wind rises. The problem at the moment is that the wind has barely moderated.
0430 - Reveille. The decision is to go, but Paddy will make the final decision when we reach the lake. I have a compass bearing to make Point Sturt, but no chart. Have offloaded 8 galls of fuel to give Juanita a reserve and will have 38 gallons aboard.
0500 - Depart Murray Bridge. Wind is now light, and water is perfect. Akoonah leading, followed by Crusader, FV59, Juanita and Gideon, in line astern.
0510 - Akoonah is making a cracking pace, and has gone out of sight ahead. Increased speed in effort to keep contact. Both motors okay, and I am getting much more speed than at any time on voyage. Speed would be over 30 kts
0515 - FV59 unable to maintain station, has been passed by Juanita and Gideon. As time is essential, we decided to make full speed; If conditions are too bad for FV59 by the time he reaches the lake, he can turn back.
0530 - Making well in excess of 30 knots. I think I have the legs of both Juanita and Gideon, despite my greater length and weight. The compensating stern seems to give Crusader a distinct edge.
0615 - Caught up with Akoonah. He is proceeding immediately into the lake, without a preliminary conference.
0620 - Into Lake Alexandrina. Short nasty seas and shocking conditions. It will be a long hard trip. 1037 - Alongside Goolwa.
Unable to keep log, owing to shocking conditions.
Akoonah, being much heavier was able to drive faster through the chop and, with a long start on the rest of the squadron, drew some 2 miles ahead. Juanita and Gideon were unable to handle the conditions nearly as well as our longer boats, with compensating sterns, and soon dropped a long way behind. I reduced speed in order to keep contact.
At approximately 0800, Gideon was seen to be in trouble and Juanita was standing by her. I decided not to turn round and go back, but to heave-to. After about 15 minutes, both boats were observed to be under way again, and I resumed course, but I could not keep down to their speed without making an undue amount of leeway.
Akoonah long since passed out of sight ahead, some 10 degrees to the northward of my compass bearing. This left me in a difficult position, as I had no charts.
At about 0845, we raised Point Sturt on the heading, but I was unable to identify it. At the same time, I observed what subsequently proved to be the Milang Light slightly to the northward of the bearing where I had last observed Akoonah. I also observed a beacon in that direction, and I decided to alter course towards the beacon.
Shortly afterwards, the lake began to shallow and I hit what proved to be a snag. I immediately put about, to get back on my precious course. I decided to come right round and try and keep close company with Juanita and Gideon.
Finally I observed Akoonah at anchor in lee of Point Sturt. Shaped course in that direction, but the note of the motors suggested the lake was shallowing. I decided to stay clear and remain on course with Juanita and Gideon. Akoonah got under way, and soon rejoined the squadron.
Running in towards Goolwa, Akoonah resumed top speed and I followed. Juanita and Gideon were soon left astern. However, over the last two miles I repeatedly fouled my propellers in weed, and came in, eventually at reduced speed.
Conditions on Lake Alexandrina were shocking. The waves were not high, but the chop was so steep that the boats received a very severe pounding. The sea could be most dangerous for open boats less than 16 ft in length, and Lake Alexandrina should definitely not be included in any proposed marathon event. Conditions were very bad indeed, but I am convinced that we did not see the worst that it can do.