saving lives during tsunami

[Franklin]

"were on their chartered 35-foot sailboat about one-half mile from shore in Phuket, Thailand, on December 26, 2004, when the tsunami hit. The first wave was an estimated 40 feet high, and was traveling at about 500 mph when it struck. They were able to turn their boat into the wave and survive..."must have been one strong boat to be able to withstand a 500 mph, 40' wave. I think they might be mixing something...like maybe it wasn't 40' high when it passed by the sailboat. Thoughts?

 

[abe]

Probably true...at that distance they probably

felt the wave role under them as the boat when up and down. Remember, this is not a 40ft surfing wave that you see in hawaii crashing on the shore. The further out to sea you are the less likely you'll feel anything.

 

[Steve O.]

probably not 500 mph

Tsunamis can travel at 500 mph in deep water out in the ocean, but once they reach the continental shelf and increasingly shallow water, they begin to slow down and build in height. That is why the wave out in the ocean may only be a foot or so in height, but traveling extremely fast, then slows down and builds in height from 40 to over 100 feet in height.

 

[TomStJohn]

Thanks

With out respect to the technical details of how a Tsunamis works, they did what I hope all sailors would do in a like situation. I thank them for their courage in saving many lives in a very difficult situation.