Nessletter - No 053 - 1982

Magazine Overview

Title: NESS INFORMATION SERVICE
Issue: No 53
Date: August 1982
Publisher: NESS INFORMATION SERVICE
Country: United Kingdom
Price: UK £2.50, North America $9.00
Cover Headline: Holidays '82

This issue of Nessletter focuses on "Holidays '82" and provides an account of the author's experiences at Loch Ness, along with various reports of unusual sightings and research activities.

Author's Loch Ness Holiday

The author arrived at Loch Ness on Sunday, July 25th, 1982, for a ten-day stay. The loch was calm, and the area, like much of Scotland, was suffering from a lack of rain, resulting in a low loch level. The author was able to spend considerable time on the water in a canoe, though no unusual sightings were reported. The holiday provided an opportunity to meet with several NIS members, including Roland Watson, who leans towards paranormal explanations for creature sightings, and Jeff Watson and Roger Acraman, who were on their first field expedition together with a range of cameras.

Ian Freshwater and his father, Doug Macfarlane and his family, also visited. The author also met with Grahame Snape and members of the Loch Ness and Morar Project (LNMP), including Ricky Gardiner and Mr B. Herring. The author notes the value of members visiting the loch to conduct their own expeditions or assist with larger ones.

Loch Ness and Morar Project (LNMP) Activities

On the first Tuesday morning, the author canoed across to Balachladaich to see the LNMP. Initially, there was no sign of activity, but it was later confirmed they were operating from Urquhart Bay. The project had chartered a converted barge with sonar equipment for six weeks, but the cost led them to seek alternatives. Tony Harmsworth of The Loch Ness Monster Exhibition offered assistance, and an agreement was reached with Jim Hogan of Caley Cruisers for the LNMP to charter the 'New Atlantis' and another older cruiser until the end of August. These vessels were based in Urquhart Bay.

The author later spoke with Adrian Shine from the LNMP. The project was using impressive sonar gear, including a bottom scan set and a side scan set, capable of recording and displaying images in colour. These sets operated on different frequencies to the LNMP's existing equipment. The side scan sonar has an automatic 'lock on' feature for tracking targets over long distances in deep water. The LNMP had recorded a target diving some 300 feet at a rate of 1 metre per second. Adrian stressed that they were not claiming proof of 'the monster' and were adhering to a careful research program, awaiting verification and duplication of results. He stated that their work was valuable for understanding the loch's conditions and interpreting sonar data, emphasizing steady progress over overnight success.

Academy of Applied Sciences Research

Bob Rines and his family were also met. Bob Needleman had visited earlier to prepare for the season's work with a new purpose-built camera/sonar rig. Previous equipment had been adapted for loch use and experienced water leakage issues. Bob Rines was pleased with the camera and felt close to correcting sonar housing faults. The new unit would allow triggering on objects of a predetermined size and was suitable for towing, potentially aiding target tracking. They were also developing advanced high-frequency sonar for picture-like images. The old Edgerton gear, consisting of a strobe light and a 16mm industrial movie camera triggered at intervals, was also being used. This rig had been deployed in Urquhart Bay and confirmed a large fish population, though no larger targets had been found by early August. The author had the opportunity to deploy this equipment with Grahame Snape and Bob Rines, recalling similar work in 1971.

Witness Accounts

Loch End Sighting: Bob interviewed a farmer and his wife at Loch End who, with his sister-in-law, reported a triple sighting in May 1982. They observed a hump about 10 feet long with a large neck, and two smaller heads and necks nearby. The heads were described as angular with small horns or tubes. The objects moved slowly towards them for almost five minutes before submerging. The farmer was certain they were not birds.

Mr Ray Greenfield Sighting: Mr Ray Greenfield, who lived in the Old Manse overlooking Loch End, reported seeing a 'pole' in the water that moved rapidly towards his shore, revealing a triangular fin-like shape. He estimated it to be three to four feet tall and was impressed by its speed and implied power. He later researched and found a plesiosaurus illustration with a diamond-shaped fin that seemed to fit his observation.

Tor Point Disturbance: On the last morning of the holiday, an English couple reported a disturbance in the water near Tor Point while repairing a moped. They saw one black hump-like object submerge and reappear as two objects, one possibly a tail. They filmed the event. The author noted that the boat 'Scott II' had made its usual trip at that time, raising the possibility that the sighting was a boat wake. The film was sent for processing and analysis.

Fort Augustus Sighting: Roger Acraman reported a sighting at Fort Augustus at the end of July. While sheltering in a car from midges, he and his girlfriend Claire saw two dark humps break the surface and move away towards Battery Rock at about 5 mph. Roger, experienced with boat wakes in the area, was certain it was not a wake. He estimated the sighting duration at 5 seconds, while Claire reckoned 9 seconds. The loch surface was calm and slightly foggy. They searched the area but found nothing. Roger later had the first film processed, showing a hump with a disturbance in the water, but not the hump itself clearly.

Other Reports

Chesapeake Bay Videotape: Robert Frew, a computer salesman from Love Point, Maryland, made a 3-minute videotape of a creature swimming near his house. The tape, shown on Baltimore television, reportedly depicts a 30-foot long, serpentine, dark brown or black creature. Specialists have examined the tape and deemed it genuine, though some describe the movement as jerky and amateurish. Dr George Zug of the Smithsonian Institute intended to convene a panel of experts to study the tape.

Lake Zeegrzynski Monster: A mysterious monster, described as an 'enormous slimy black head with rabbit-like ears', was reported in an artificial lake 18 miles north of Warsaw, Poland. Other witnesses claim the creature is six metres long.

LNI Equipment: David James reported that the LNI cameras and equipment were sold to meet an overdraft. He purchased two himself, a Newman Sinclair and a 36" lens, which are now museum pieces on display at the Loch Ness Monster Exhibition.

Lionel Leslie's Book: Lionel Leslie's book is expected to be published after Christmas or the turn of the year due to publisher's delays.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently focuses on unexplained phenomena, particularly the Loch Ness Monster, but also includes reports of UFO/UAP sightings and other mysterious encounters. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded investigation, encouraging the collection and sharing of witness accounts and research data. There is an emphasis on careful documentation and analysis, as seen in the LNMP's approach and the advice to write down observations before discussing them. The author expresses a personal desire to see 'Nessie' but acknowledges that it did not oblige during this holiday, ending with "Still, there is always next time."