rogue wave turn into it or not

[letterman]

You are the Captain of a 650 foot ship and are crossing the Atlantic. You are in 20 foot seas. Your assistants (2) spot a rougue wave visually and on radar (go with this). It appears to be 80 foot tall and is far enough away that you have time to react. You are currently heading directly into the 20 foot swells. The rogue is coming from just forward of a starboard beam reach.
What do you order the helmsman to do ....keep on course? Turn to starboard and head into the oncoming rogue? Turn just the opposite so the rogue hits you on the aft end?

"Helmsman, poop thy pants" is not an option.

 

[Franklin]

I think I would turn into it but not take it dead on....45 degress off so I don't slam down the backside nearly as hard.

 

[Franklin]

I take that back...I would turn and run with it. The ratio is 12%. I've catch by a true breaking wave at 21% ratio and the boat just rose up over it. Either way, the only damage that is going to happen is from stuff not tied down. Definately need to get on the mic and let everybody know to take shelter.

 

[Ross]

How about I am on a 30 foot boat in a one foot chop and a mega yacht comes by making a 6 foot bow wave(it has happened to us). Nancy had the helm and turned away. This prolonged the agony. I told her to turn into it and we crossed it quartering. Much nicer ride.
Is an 80 foot wave on a 650 foot ship different than a six foot wave on a 30 foot boat?

 

[Benny]

Ross, it's 74 feet higher. I distrust percentages and ratios as they can skew proportion and reality. If it was me I would turn into it and hope the ship did not break in two.

 

[Ross]

Ross, it's 74 feet higher. I distrust percentages and ratios as they can skew proportion and reality. If it was me I would turn into it and hope the ship did not break in two.

Very helpful.

 

[sailndive345]

I don't quite remember which thread this was from but your giant wave(s) are illustrated pretty dramatically; check out the link:

http://www.geocities.com/kp_diver/index111TheStorm.html

I believe the text describes what they did to get through the stuff...

Hope we don't ever have to worry about this bad of sea state - I'll take the mega yacht wake any day

Sailndive

 

[sailingdog]

I think I would turn into the wave and try and cross it at an angle... crossing it at an angle reduces the steepness of the wave a good deal and gives the ship longer to transit the crest of the wave.

Of course, this response is predicated on it not being an 80' breaking wave... if it is an 80' breaking wave... turn and run like hell, as fast as possible and hope it finishes breaking before it gets to the ship.

 

[dvideohd]

I saw that Movie.... (remake out soon... should be good....)...

there was a discovery channel episode on rogue waves and the frequency of same... worth seeing....

I was driving past the mouth of the Chesapeake and happened to look out at the water... with no apparent warning I saw a good 25+ wave just RISE UP out of the water and break.... no other surrounding waves more than a foot or so.... extremely odd...

Since I won't be driving the big boat - but I will a small one - I would guess that I just should be prepared for knockdown - and a breaking wave.... turn away & run ...

-jr

 

[Stu Jackson]

I have no clue

but offer this: our "sailor's understanding of waves" may not be applicable to a large ship because the hull form and underbody are completely different. The 45 degree angle may not work at all for a big ship but sure works for us and mb waves.