Tallest wave approching what do you do?

Captain Haddock

Captain Haddock

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Having just read this

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4739741.stm#graphic

It set me thinking about what would you do if confronted by such a wave at sea?

I mean to see 90+ft of wave coming at you, I couldn't imagine it.

I think I'd freeze at first (parp), drop the sails, run down below and try and secure what I could, lifejackets on, bring the crew together in a huddle and pray whilst holding the epirb.
 
Panic

It was in the middle of a hurricane, so hopefully you'd be in "survival mode", running with warps or hove-to. You wouldn't see it, as only a complete looney would be out in the cockpit at such a time. Then again, who am I to judge. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif The wind and sea are forces that we cannot control and, if caught out like that, can only hope by good fortune to survive. Skill has nothing to do with it, and whatever you did, it was already to late.
 
S***- that scares me to even think about it. I think I'd get the spinnaker up and go surfing- if it's going to be the last sailing you ever do, you may as well enjoy it.

Worrying thought though, because it wouldn't just be one wave and they would be coming from different directions if it's in or around a tropical revolving storm. Personally I hope I'm never in that situation.
 
Go to the heads, put your head between your legs a kiss your a*** goodbye.

I,ve only sailed in a hurricane once. The seas were a lot flatter than I expected.
 
I wonder what speed you'd get on the log surfing off the front of the wave. You'd have to get a digital picture of that before you were trashed!

Surfed down the front of a nice big wave in in my Sigma once and saw 14Kn on the log. My girlfriend of the time and I just looked at each other then I waggled the tiller round trying to bleed off speed before poughing into the wave in front! Not exactly the same as the space shuttle bleeding off speed but good exercise for the sphincter muscles!
 
I suppose it would depend on whether it was a flat-fronted or breaking wave. If it were either, a boat would simplly roll down the front and disintergrate! - Not a pleasant thought!
read "The Fatal Storm"

If it was still rolling, you may have a chance as you shoot up & over the top (similar effect can be had at Alton Towers on Oblivion if anybody wants to try!)

I'm now staying in the Solent!!!! (NOT!!)
 
It depends on the steepness of the wave - 91' is fine if taken over a mile or so - you wouldn't notice it .. if it was 91' over 91' (trough to crest) then your talking 45 degree angle ..

theory being - big engine - head into it, small engine - run with it... ?? eitherway - leave the autopilot to deal with it whilst you drain the contents of the drinks cabinet! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Need to read the \'true\' version

Movie Perfect Storm ......

Movie is shite .... but based on the true yacht experience - yacht is still sailing and was recovered after the incident !!
 
Nothing rare about this...unless things have got better in recent years. We get 100 Ft waves in the North Sea under certain storm conditions most years.

Visit here and enjoy from those who photographed and lived to fight another day /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

http://tv-antenna.com/heavy-seas/

John
 
Why are they not chipping the ice off?

ice-fishing.jpg


4.jpg
 
[ QUOTE ]
It wouldn't worry me as these things never happen to you do they?

[/ QUOTE ] Well, only once...[ QUOTE ]
They always happen to other people.

[/ QUOTE ]But to me, you are other people /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I've never experienced really big seas - my worst was in Christchurch bay, when the windex gave up at 55kts, which was quite impressive enough, thank you. Still, from that and videos of rescues in hurricane conditions, I get the impression that it's not the big swell that will do you in, it's the "little" 20-30 foot wave that breaks across your beam. The most dangerous time is not the initial blast that builds up big, fairly regular waves, but when the wind shifts and the dying, but still strong swell from the old wind starts mixing it with the building swell from the new wind: The sea then takes on a whole new playful mood. The game is badminton - and you're the shuttlecock /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
Steve, It's a proven fact that the head-in-the-sand method works.........well.....just about all the time. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Should n't you be posting this on GOM ??? /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
i am sure that most of these pics are genuine but I believe one is regretably "enhanced".

Look closely at the pic of a ship nose diving into a trough with less than half the deck out of the water.In one pic it is diving down a trough in another the ship is identical even down to the curve of the water on deck but in the one pic a huge following sea is about to engulf the ship in the other the sea isnt there.
1.jpg
6.jpg


Pity really as the original pic was allready impressive enough.
 
[ QUOTE ]
i am sure that most of these pics are genuine but I believe one is regretably "enhanced".

Look closely at the pic of a ship nose diving into a trough with less than half the deck out of the water.In one pic it is diving down a trough in another the ship is identical even down to the curve of the water on deck but in the one pic a huge following sea is about to engulf the ship in the other the sea isnt there.
1.jpg
6.jpg


Pity really as the original pic was allready impressive enough.

[/ QUOTE ]Yeah, seen this set before with the dodgy one included, but last time without all the writing... I think it was here, or maybe a place not too far away?
 
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