Just as we are planning for our first "Offshore" adventure next spring I read in the news today of the phenomena of Rogue waves.....Ive head of them but never gave any thought. The news today is they are not a 1000 year event but happen more often than you may think. We have been hit with a 6- 10 footers that seam to have come out of no where but these scientists are talking about 30 meter waves!!....Whats the best to handle one of those?? Anyone out there been hit by an unexpected 6-10 footer?? or bigger?? Next spring we are heading to Burmuda from Annapolis....maybe we need a bigger boat. thoughts? Check out the links http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5491071 http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040721/sc_afp/science_sea_040721170738 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3917539.stm
- Status
Stuff happens!!!!
The big waves seem to require specific circumstances. The worst place to be seems to be where deep water meets shallow water or a strong current. My brother was on an island when a roque wave swept a whole family off of the beach and they all drowned. Tragic but rare. There are probably other things more likely to happen that you should be prepared to deal with. Unless a wave is breaking it should pass underneath you without harm. We have ran into some pretty big non breaking waves 10-12' and they were a non event even if a little scarey. With monster waves probably the safest place to be is in deep water far from shore. The worst is getting ready to run a shallow inlet near deep water. Tom
The big waves seem to require specific circumstances. The worst place to be seems to be where deep water meets shallow water or a strong current. My brother was on an island when a roque wave swept a whole family off of the beach and they all drowned. Tragic but rare. There are probably other things more likely to happen that you should be prepared to deal with. Unless a wave is breaking it should pass underneath you without harm. We have ran into some pretty big non breaking waves 10-12' and they were a non event even if a little scarey. With monster waves probably the safest place to be is in deep water far from shore. The worst is getting ready to run a shallow inlet near deep water. Tom
Go on a 10meter sailboard and hang 10
You didn't say what size or type boat you are going on, or what your preparations are, or what experience your crew has. You might check out the requirements for the BOR race (sponsored by the Eastport YC) or any catagory I offshore race to see if you are properly equiped for it. I just got back from the BOR2004 (Bermuda Ocean Race) starting in Annapolis, and my first reaction to your question is - what would be left on Bermuda thats worth going to after its hit by a 30meter wave? Seriously, put your concern into more tangible and probable dangers. A SOLAS liferaft, a 406 EPIRB and maybe a satellite phone are your tools of last resort.
You didn't say what size or type boat you are going on, or what your preparations are, or what experience your crew has. You might check out the requirements for the BOR race (sponsored by the Eastport YC) or any catagory I offshore race to see if you are properly equiped for it. I just got back from the BOR2004 (Bermuda Ocean Race) starting in Annapolis, and my first reaction to your question is - what would be left on Bermuda thats worth going to after its hit by a 30meter wave? Seriously, put your concern into more tangible and probable dangers. A SOLAS liferaft, a 406 EPIRB and maybe a satellite phone are your tools of last resort.
John
Good One!!! We have a 46' Morgan with "almost" everything we need...the list just keeps getting added too...But I think we have a handle on it....good point about 30 meter wave and what would happen to burmuda! How long did it take you???..I head 5 days approx open ocean. Our crew..my wife and I maybe another couple....both of us have 30 years on boats..but limited Open ocean sailing. We plan to do the around delmarva peninsula this fall and annapolis to newport soon also. Glad to hear we have some off shore folk on this site too!
Good One!!! We have a 46' Morgan with "almost" everything we need...the list just keeps getting added too...But I think we have a handle on it....good point about 30 meter wave and what would happen to burmuda! How long did it take you???..I head 5 days approx open ocean. Our crew..my wife and I maybe another couple....both of us have 30 years on boats..but limited Open ocean sailing. We plan to do the around delmarva peninsula this fall and annapolis to newport soon also. Glad to hear we have some off shore folk on this site too!
Not uncommon - 2 waves in one!
Latitudes and Attitude had a very good article on this about 2 months ago. When two waves catch up with one another from the same of different directions there peaks and or troughs can coicide. The really BIG rogue waves are much more rare (statistical chance of several waves coinciding). I single handed out across the Pacific in my Gulf 32 in the fall of 1994 and 10-12 foot swells are common for a few days. The boat would surf down, then"stop" as it reached the peak of the wave in front. Then the whole wave creast around the boat would turn to foam - very exhilerating! However, I did experience a rogue "trough", the boat went (as usual) down the face of a 10-12 footer, then...a "hole in the ocean" appeared, so that the combination was about 20 feet. I though "Oh my god- this is it--it's ging to broach!" - but no- that spoon bow went "sploosh" and boat did NOT dig in but continued in its bobbing duck like way. I had nothing to do with this - it was purely the boat design that worked. In short- things are not as bad as they seem, unless they are over hanging and breaking - then you can broach or roll! but that is really freaky and (as said, on other posts) more likely where there is some sort of shelf or current condition. Things really do smooth out the deeper you get!
Latitudes and Attitude had a very good article on this about 2 months ago. When two waves catch up with one another from the same of different directions there peaks and or troughs can coicide. The really BIG rogue waves are much more rare (statistical chance of several waves coinciding). I single handed out across the Pacific in my Gulf 32 in the fall of 1994 and 10-12 foot swells are common for a few days. The boat would surf down, then"stop" as it reached the peak of the wave in front. Then the whole wave creast around the boat would turn to foam - very exhilerating! However, I did experience a rogue "trough", the boat went (as usual) down the face of a 10-12 footer, then...a "hole in the ocean" appeared, so that the combination was about 20 feet. I though "Oh my god- this is it--it's ging to broach!" - but no- that spoon bow went "sploosh" and boat did NOT dig in but continued in its bobbing duck like way. I had nothing to do with this - it was purely the boat design that worked. In short- things are not as bad as they seem, unless they are over hanging and breaking - then you can broach or roll! but that is really freaky and (as said, on other posts) more likely where there is some sort of shelf or current condition. Things really do smooth out the deeper you get!
Morgan will do nicely
Actually the Seascout flagship in Baltimore is a Morgan 46 yawl, so I am somewhat familiar with the boat. The BOR and many other ocean races limit the boats to above 30ft. Thats not to say a proper boat of lesser length shouldn't go, of course. The race expects about 8-9 days in total transit (under sail) and considers over ten days to be cause for concern. Five ocean days is probably a minimum. There was a radio check-in daily, and it would be a good idea for you to arrange a shore contact also. Get in touch with people who monitor weather and give specific advice to yachts. We had a storm in the lower Bay that shot us out in less than 20 hrs, but a combination of light winds and cold eddies near Bermuda made us take a DNF to motor for our own scheduled commitments. Between running the engine to recharge batteries and the final motoring, we ran out of diesel as we were docking. We ran out again on the return trip fighting headseas and storms we couldn't comfortably sail thru. Recharging batteries, conserving fuel, and making radio contact were our most difficult problems. In addition, there were extra preparations like parallel fuel lines, engine intake rigged to suck bilgewater in emergencies, celestial navigation, wind/sea generator, etc. Doing a Delmarva sounds like a really good idea for preparation. Going out and practising in all conditions with your crew is another, even if they have other extensive experience. The BOR requires participation in several bouy races and seminars beforehand to review the fleet and warm up. You may have smooth sailing all the way, but crossing the Gulfstream is a bumpy ride so just barf and get on with it. And then there is beautiful Bermuda at the end, wow, I want to go back too. Buy an extended bus pass to get around and don't miss the Royal Dockyard, St.George, Hamilton, the south shore beaches, and the Swizzle Inn.
Actually the Seascout flagship in Baltimore is a Morgan 46 yawl, so I am somewhat familiar with the boat. The BOR and many other ocean races limit the boats to above 30ft. Thats not to say a proper boat of lesser length shouldn't go, of course. The race expects about 8-9 days in total transit (under sail) and considers over ten days to be cause for concern. Five ocean days is probably a minimum. There was a radio check-in daily, and it would be a good idea for you to arrange a shore contact also. Get in touch with people who monitor weather and give specific advice to yachts. We had a storm in the lower Bay that shot us out in less than 20 hrs, but a combination of light winds and cold eddies near Bermuda made us take a DNF to motor for our own scheduled commitments. Between running the engine to recharge batteries and the final motoring, we ran out of diesel as we were docking. We ran out again on the return trip fighting headseas and storms we couldn't comfortably sail thru. Recharging batteries, conserving fuel, and making radio contact were our most difficult problems. In addition, there were extra preparations like parallel fuel lines, engine intake rigged to suck bilgewater in emergencies, celestial navigation, wind/sea generator, etc. Doing a Delmarva sounds like a really good idea for preparation. Going out and practising in all conditions with your crew is another, even if they have other extensive experience. The BOR requires participation in several bouy races and seminars beforehand to review the fleet and warm up. You may have smooth sailing all the way, but crossing the Gulfstream is a bumpy ride so just barf and get on with it. And then there is beautiful Bermuda at the end, wow, I want to go back too. Buy an extended bus pass to get around and don't miss the Royal Dockyard, St.George, Hamilton, the south shore beaches, and the Swizzle Inn.
One more thing
You said your crew was your wife and MAYBE one other couple. That leaves your watches pretty thin for that size boat, and dirty weather, seasickness, injury or equipment problems could exhaust both of you quickly with no relief. There are plenty of solo and couple cruisers, but they must be especially cautious of human factors. Make stops down the Bay to stay rested. Getting offshore, past shipping lanes and thru the Gulfstream is a long chore within the trip. Then, any good weather at sea will be restful by comparison. Frankly, what we found was that it was far more dangerous below decks than being on deck. In rough weather I found myself launched across the cabin several times despite my best efforts. We resorted to sitting on the cabin sole as the best method of putting on foul weather gear, and preferred sleeping there . All our bruises and 'boat bites' came from being below.
You said your crew was your wife and MAYBE one other couple. That leaves your watches pretty thin for that size boat, and dirty weather, seasickness, injury or equipment problems could exhaust both of you quickly with no relief. There are plenty of solo and couple cruisers, but they must be especially cautious of human factors. Make stops down the Bay to stay rested. Getting offshore, past shipping lanes and thru the Gulfstream is a long chore within the trip. Then, any good weather at sea will be restful by comparison. Frankly, what we found was that it was far more dangerous below decks than being on deck. In rough weather I found myself launched across the cabin several times despite my best efforts. We resorted to sitting on the cabin sole as the best method of putting on foul weather gear, and preferred sleeping there . All our bruises and 'boat bites' came from being below.
- Status