RETRIEVAL

Adrian’s boat and Tay’s 10hp motor were lowered down a near-vertical cliff to a quieter section of the river.

Though four days from the peak of the flood, the flow of the water was still more powerful than what would be encountered in southern rivers.

Cameron’s request for a spare fuel tank was ignored and, had it not been, may have made the recovery quicker and easier (but perhaps more risky).  The three jumped into the boat and took off at an angle downstream.  Kim was dropped at a rock island part way to where Mike’s boat was stranded.
 

The motor ventilated (cavitated) badly in the turbulent water.

Despite repeated attempts, Scott and Cameron were unable to reach Mike’s boat by going up against the flow of the river.  Scott was left on an exposed rock below the blocking rapid and Cameron tried four more times before he successfully made it to the boat.

He dragged the boat onto some rocks and assessed the situation. 
 

Cameron tells his story:

“The only way to get the boat back was to drive it.  There appeared to be 50% water in the fuel tank.  If somebody had listened to me we would have had a spare tank (spit, spit - Ed.).  I took out the tank from Adrian’s boat to use on Mike’s motor.  After several minutes of cleaning and TLC I was able to start the motor.

I had to improvise a tank.  A round, one-litre, plastic lunch container was the answer.  I used a prop to drill a half inch hole in the lid.  Chopped off fuel line and bunged tank with tilt pin.  Filled up makeshift tank with fuel and washed out.  Started motor to check all was OK.  Excellent. Would have passed scrutineering!”

Cameron loaded Mike’s boat sideways across Adrian’s boat and drove down to where Scott was waiting.  Both were “melting” in their wetsuits.
 

Attempts to drive Mike’s boat up a shoot were unsuccessful.  The jack was jammed and would not allow the motor to be lowered far enough into the water to get sufficient drive.  Eventually Cameron ferried Scott, Kim and the boat back to the waiting Support Crew, one at a time.

It took a frustrating hour to retrieve the boat and just as long to get the smile from Mike’s face.

Hauling the two boats and motors up the cliff and back onto the roofrack of The Bus was hard work but a least on this occasion the distance they had to be carried was only about 100 metres.