Last September, Filey Lifeboat played host to the joint Anglo/American research team during the search for the famed "Bonhomme Richard" in Filey Bay. The expedition was funded by the National Geographic Society of America with the American National Parks Service divers headed up by top Underwater archaeologist Daniel Lenihan.

This joint operation also consisted of the world famed underwater archaeologist Donald G Shomette of Maryland USA, John Adams and divers from the Filey Underwater Research Unit with the ADU from Edinburgh University. Local skipper Brian Cox and his boat were used for the diving platform and the Filey Town Council with many local people contributed to this important expedition.

The National Geographic Society used the Lifeboat house as local base and conference centre and undertook filming in and around the lifeboat. The expedition undertook a survey of a wooden wreck in Filey Bay discovered by diver John Adams and has attracted worldwide interest. No details of the results of the expedition have been released but the Filey Lifeboat crews kept a watching brief on the diving operations and the ILB visited the site on exercise.

By kind permission of the Filey Underwater Research Unit, we include a selection of pictures of their visit, which are the copyright of Tony Green.

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American underwater archaelogist Donald G Shomette and local fisherman Jim Haxby    National Geographic features editor right talks to Peter Pritchard, diving contractor    Dan Lenihan on Filey Lifeboat    Dan Lenihan Aboard Filey Lifeboat    National Parks divers filming John Adams aboard Filey Lifeboat    John Adams being interviewed aboard Filey Lifeboat    Matt Russell and Dive Boat skipper Brian Cox in discussion in crew room    National Geographic Society photographer Christoph Gerigk

For further information on the search for the "Bonhomme Richard" go to www.fileybay.com