Featuring the "real" Dirk Pitt , RMS Titanic and
"The Battle of Lake Erie"
"The Battle of Lake Erie"
Sawmill Creek Resort & Lodge, 400 Sawmill Creek Drive West, Huron, OH 44839
Shipwrecks of World War II & More
James A. Andrews - Marine Artist
Ken Marshall
Catri on Canvas
Time Past / Dave & Catherine LaGrange
Dave & Annette Soule
Dennis Hale
Evening Banquet Program: 6:30pm - 9:30pm: $40.00
Ralph Wilbanks
Marine Archaeologist, Shipwreck Hunter. Southern Gentleman
Marine Archaeologist, Shipwreck Hunter. Southern Gentleman
Aftermath on the bottom -- The Normandy Invasion
Ralph Wilbanks is probably best known for discovering the Confederate Submarine H.L. Hunley. However, this extraordinary accomplishment pales when viewed against the fullness of this singular individual’s life. Ralph is the principle investigator and owner of Diversified Wilbank’s Inc., and has over 35 years of experience in underwater archaeology. He has worked all over the world in search of history’s lost maritime treasures and is an advisory board member of Clive Cussler’s NUMA (National Underwater and Marine Agency).
When he is not working on a NUMA assignment or traveling the world for many other organizations He can be found towing his boat RV Divercty as far as the Great Lakes on personal search projects. This past year he was involved in charting the lost ships and equipment off the WWII invasion coasts of Normandy. This extensive exploration discovered over 200 shipwrecks, many tanks, personnel carriers, and much more. Besides all that, Ralph is one heck of a story teller.
When he is not working on a NUMA assignment or traveling the world for many other organizations He can be found towing his boat RV Divercty as far as the Great Lakes on personal search projects. This past year he was involved in charting the lost ships and equipment off the WWII invasion coasts of Normandy. This extensive exploration discovered over 200 shipwrecks, many tanks, personnel carriers, and much more. Besides all that, Ralph is one heck of a story teller.
Daytime Programs: 9:30am - 4:30pm $35.00
Plus 5 more Great Lakes Shipwreck and Diving programs to be announced.
Presentation Schedule:
Welcome and administrative: 9:30 Am to 9:40 AM
Daytime Speaker 9:40 Am to 10:10 AM
Daytime Speaker: 10:10 AM to 10:40 AM
Break: 10:40 AM to 11:00 AM
Walter Lewis: 11:00 AM to 11:45 AM
Lunch: 11:45 AM tp 1:30 PM
Welcome back and administrative: 1:30 PM to 1:35 PM
Daytime Speaker: 1:35 PM to 2:05 PM
Daytime Speaker: 2:05 PM to 2:35 PM
Break: 2:35 PM to 3:00 PM
Daytime Speaker: 3:00 PM to 3:30 PM
Georgann & Mike Wachter: 3:30 PM to 4:00 PM
Run Over Contengency: 4:00 PM to 4:30 PM
Cocktails and Exhibitors: 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM
Welcome and administrative: 9:30 Am to 9:40 AM
Daytime Speaker 9:40 Am to 10:10 AM
Daytime Speaker: 10:10 AM to 10:40 AM
Break: 10:40 AM to 11:00 AM
Walter Lewis: 11:00 AM to 11:45 AM
Lunch: 11:45 AM tp 1:30 PM
Welcome back and administrative: 1:30 PM to 1:35 PM
Daytime Speaker: 1:35 PM to 2:05 PM
Daytime Speaker: 2:05 PM to 2:35 PM
Break: 2:35 PM to 3:00 PM
Daytime Speaker: 3:00 PM to 3:30 PM
Georgann & Mike Wachter: 3:30 PM to 4:00 PM
Run Over Contengency: 4:00 PM to 4:30 PM
Cocktails and Exhibitors: 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM
Dinner: 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM
Roll Warmup and Tribute: 7:15 PM to 7:30 PM
Master of Ceremonies: 7:30 PM to 7:45 PM
Joe Hoyt 7:45 PM to 8:15 PM
Break: 8:15 PM to 8:45 PM
Ralph Wilbanks 8:45 PM to 9:15 PM
Roll Warmup and Tribute: 7:15 PM to 7:30 PM
Master of Ceremonies: 7:30 PM to 7:45 PM
Joe Hoyt 7:45 PM to 8:15 PM
Break: 8:15 PM to 8:45 PM
Ralph Wilbanks 8:45 PM to 9:15 PM
Sponsor and Presenter Display area open from 10:00am to 6:30pm - Free
Survivors: The Great Storm of 1913
Walter Lewis Bio
Most of the commemorations of the Great Storm of 1913 are focused on the sailors who lost their lives and some of the largest ships ever lost on the Great Lakes. This presentation celebrates the survivors. Some of them ended up ashore, to be salvaged and put back to work. Others limped into port coated in ice or found a corner of the Lakes to lie up in. A number of the steamers survived this storm only to be lost on one or even two other occasions. There are shallow wrecks and deep wrecks, and even one in Italian waters.
Walter Lewis Bio
Most of the commemorations of the Great Storm of 1913 are focused on the sailors who lost their lives and some of the largest ships ever lost on the Great Lakes. This presentation celebrates the survivors. Some of them ended up ashore, to be salvaged and put back to work. Others limped into port coated in ice or found a corner of the Lakes to lie up in. A number of the steamers survived this storm only to be lost on one or even two other occasions. There are shallow wrecks and deep wrecks, and even one in Italian waters.
Operation Hailstorm - The Shipwrecks of Chuuk Lagoon
Georgann & Mike Wachter Bio
Chuuk Lagoon, known as Truk Lagoon during WWII, is the premier wreck diving destination in the world. Why? On February 17, 1944 the tropical skies over Truk Lagoon exploded with rage as U.S. Navy, Task Force 58 - a group of 9 aircraft carriers and related cruisers, destroyers and subs launched an attack on Truk Lagoon. Mike and Georgann will take you back in history to explore the shipwrecks of Chuuk and the events leading to their loss.
Georgann & Mike Wachter Bio
Chuuk Lagoon, known as Truk Lagoon during WWII, is the premier wreck diving destination in the world. Why? On February 17, 1944 the tropical skies over Truk Lagoon exploded with rage as U.S. Navy, Task Force 58 - a group of 9 aircraft carriers and related cruisers, destroyers and subs launched an attack on Truk Lagoon. Mike and Georgann will take you back in history to explore the shipwrecks of Chuuk and the events leading to their loss.
