"Can my 28-footer cross the Atlantic?" Click this link into the Photo Forum on CatalinaOwners.com and find some clues!
For everyone who's wondered...
- Thread starter Phil Herring
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Awsome Pictures!!
Really impressive pictures. Another title for "Confused Seas" could be "What's for dinner?"
Really impressive pictures. Another title for "Confused Seas" could be "What's for dinner?"
Yup, they do that for a living!
In 16 years of working on offshore oil rigs, I've seen some similar weather on the Grand Banks and off Sable Island. The worst storm I went through was at Xmas 1994 off Sable; 60 foot waves and 93 knot winds. All from the relative comfort of an oil rig. The point is that these rigs & supply vessels are engineered to take that kind of beating. Humans are not. Anyone who isn't uneasy in those conditions is a fool. The ship is usually stronger than the crew. But sometimes Mother Nature has the last word. I wouldn't wish any sailboat - regardless of size - that sort of weather but, with good equipment, planning and some luck, even a pleasure sailboat could survive out there. There are lots of stories of storm survival in small boats, but its the stories that were never written that make us think before we venture offshore.
In 16 years of working on offshore oil rigs, I've seen some similar weather on the Grand Banks and off Sable Island. The worst storm I went through was at Xmas 1994 off Sable; 60 foot waves and 93 knot winds. All from the relative comfort of an oil rig. The point is that these rigs & supply vessels are engineered to take that kind of beating. Humans are not. Anyone who isn't uneasy in those conditions is a fool. The ship is usually stronger than the crew. But sometimes Mother Nature has the last word. I wouldn't wish any sailboat - regardless of size - that sort of weather but, with good equipment, planning and some luck, even a pleasure sailboat could survive out there. There are lots of stories of storm survival in small boats, but its the stories that were never written that make us think before we venture offshore.
You can find killer seas anywhere
There have been 247 "US Life-Saving Service & US Coast Guard Small Boat Personnel" killed in the line of duty from March 1, 1876 to March 24, 2001, most of these brave men drowned saving others. You don't have to go to the "Grand Banks" to find killer seas, it can be found in your own home waters. Fair Winds. Clyde
There have been 247 "US Life-Saving Service & US Coast Guard Small Boat Personnel" killed in the line of duty from March 1, 1876 to March 24, 2001, most of these brave men drowned saving others. You don't have to go to the "Grand Banks" to find killer seas, it can be found in your own home waters. Fair Winds. Clyde
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Thanks Clyde
As a member of the Aux. out of station New London thanks for the CG support!!! Can you tell me where that shot was taken and any info about it? I would like to post it on an au, web site. Thanks. Bill
As a member of the Aux. out of station New London thanks for the CG support!!! Can you tell me where that shot was taken and any info about it? I would like to post it on an au, web site. Thanks. Bill
Quillayute River Bar, La Push Washington
Bill, The picture was from a web site dedicated to the 44-foot motor lifeboat. The picture was taken by Vern Williams in 1992. I think it is late spring or early summer since you can see daylight and there isn't any rain or dark clouds. It looks like a typical training exercise for the 44-foot motor lifeboats when the wind and waves are manageable in late spring and early summer near the "Needles", the rock pillar formation. Only two 44-Foot Motor Lifeboats in the US CG were ever lost, one in Alaska and one on the Quillayute River bar. On midnight February 12, 1997, US Coast Guard Station Quillayute River, in La Push Washington was responding to a 12:00 am distress call from a sailboat, three out of the four US CG boat crew members were lost . The Quillayute River disaster was the first and only time members of a 44-Foot Motor Lifeboat crew were ever lost with their boat. The 44-Foot has been replaced with by 47-Foot Motor Lifeboat. The photo of the 47-Foot is by Petty Officer Jaime Bigelow 13th District Public Affairs Office, another typical Northwest training run. The link to the 44-Foot web site. http://home.online.no/~lawford/xrl/xrl.htm Fair Winds. Clyde
Bill, The picture was from a web site dedicated to the 44-foot motor lifeboat. The picture was taken by Vern Williams in 1992. I think it is late spring or early summer since you can see daylight and there isn't any rain or dark clouds. It looks like a typical training exercise for the 44-foot motor lifeboats when the wind and waves are manageable in late spring and early summer near the "Needles", the rock pillar formation. Only two 44-Foot Motor Lifeboats in the US CG were ever lost, one in Alaska and one on the Quillayute River bar. On midnight February 12, 1997, US Coast Guard Station Quillayute River, in La Push Washington was responding to a 12:00 am distress call from a sailboat, three out of the four US CG boat crew members were lost . The Quillayute River disaster was the first and only time members of a 44-Foot Motor Lifeboat crew were ever lost with their boat. The 44-Foot has been replaced with by 47-Foot Motor Lifeboat. The photo of the 47-Foot is by Petty Officer Jaime Bigelow 13th District Public Affairs Office, another typical Northwest training run. The link to the 44-Foot web site. http://home.online.no/~lawford/xrl/xrl.htm Fair Winds. Clyde
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