BajaNomad

Rogue Waves

Cypress - 8-4-2008 at 11:39 AM

Read an interesting on-line article about waves as high as 100'+ forming for no apparent reason in mid-ocean. Was wondering if any nomads have had a personal experience with "rogue waves".:?:

bajajudy - 8-4-2008 at 12:09 PM

I have. It was not 100' high. I was coming up the companionway to go on watch and behind the guy on watch was a wall of water that must have been 50-60'. I screamed bloody murder, Bill looked around and then back at me with the wildest look I have ever seen in anyone's eyes. Fortunately it just spanked the stern of the boat and we rode over the top of it. But it was such a jerky movement that it knocked all the batteries our of their boxes and woke up the whole crew who found themselves thrown from their berths.
This was in the Caribbean south of Jamaica. We limped into Jamaica using flashlights with t-shirts(one red, one green) tied around them for running lights. The coastguard had to tow us in.

Cypress - 8-4-2008 at 01:05 PM

bajajudy, Thanks for the story. :yes: What size vessel?

oxxo - 8-4-2008 at 01:25 PM

I have not experienced a rogue wave. They are a somewhat uncommon phenomena, but they can occur on occasion. They are not "formed for no apparent reason." They are caused by the unpredictable convergence of several different wave trains, from several different directions, under just the right conditions, that result in one uncommonly tall wave. They can occur at any time under any conditions, even benign weather. Fortunately they do not occur frequently. I know vagabond sailors who have lived on the sea constantly traveling for 30 years or more who have never encountered a rogue wave. Yet, as Judy relates, they do occur.

I worry more about running into a submerged nuclear sub (of any nation) that will not surface to render assistance should I suffer damage, than I do about running into a rogue wave.

Cypress - 8-4-2008 at 01:42 PM

oxxo, Epizootic waves are what you're referring to.:D Sort of a combination of waves converging at a given point in the ocean.:D Don't worry about running into a nuclear sub, they operate well offshore in deep water.:lol:

bajajudy - 8-4-2008 at 02:21 PM

40' Gulf Star...at least I think that was the make. Made in Florida.
I was doing a boat delivery from Martinique to Palm Beach...never made it. I got off the boat and flew home, which at that time was St Croix

Bruce R Leech - 8-4-2008 at 02:26 PM

yes 3 waves at deferent times back in my sailing days, all in the pacific. 2 of them were in calm seas.

Cypress - 8-4-2008 at 03:06 PM

When you get out there a ways, it's a different world.:tumble:

Never have seen a rogue wave.

BMG - 8-4-2008 at 03:08 PM

Have seen rough seas a few times. Even lost our rudder once coming through the channel between Molokai and Maui. That was an interesting ride.

Below is a photo a friend took of our boat and another sailboat at anchor in the Marquesas Islands. Not sure what woke us up, the crashing of a wave over our bow or the scream of a surfer whizzing passed our boat. Waves were breaking over the breakwall and wrapping around into the normally calm anchorage. About 15 or so boats tied a bouy onto their anchor lines and left without even trying to pull up anchor.

Swells_in_harbor_on_Hiva_Oa_-_April_1989.JPG - 38kB

bajajudy - 8-4-2008 at 03:16 PM

BMG
I forgot we had rudder problems after, too. It vibrated so bad that I was the only one who could sleep in the aft cabin. My thinking was...if this sucker falls off, I will be the first one to know.
BTW we were in very calm seas too

Santiago - 8-4-2008 at 05:13 PM

More common (I think) are waves than bend around a small island and depending on how they meet on the other side can cancel each other out or nearly double in size. Books on anchoring techniques warn of this.

805gregg - 8-4-2008 at 06:00 PM

Boats will always take more punishment than their humans, the Westsail 32" abandoned in the perfect storm, was found later just fine with no one aboard. If the wave is not breaking the boat will just rise up and go over it.

JaraHurd - 8-4-2008 at 06:43 PM

I spend 3-4 months out of the year for 6 years in the Bering Sea and Gulf Of Alaska on the USCGC Boutwell (WHEC-719) doing fisheries, drug and search and rescue patrols in the 80's.. We encountered rough seas all the time..but never a rogue wave...but..one of the ice breakers that was stationed in Seattle (they are over 400 feet long) was broadsided by a rogue wave..a crewmember on the bridge was killed. ....very scary phenomenom! I believe it was the Polar Star but I am unsure if it was the Star or Polar Sea. I have been VERY lucky at sea..

bajamigo - 8-4-2008 at 09:22 PM

Haven't experienced one myself, but we get more than the occasional rogue wave at La Bufadora (Punta Banda). There have been a number of deaths in recent years, including, sadly, a couple standing on the rocks by the sea for their wedding pictures. They were swept out on an otherwise calm day.

Sharksbaja - 8-4-2008 at 09:39 PM

Those are called "sneaker waves". They are much more common than a rogue wave and occur on the shore. They take lives every year in the PNW.

[Edited on 8-5-2008 by Sharksbaja]

Alan - 8-4-2008 at 09:57 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Cypress
oxxo, Epizootic waves are what you're referring to.:D Sort of a combination of waves converging at a given point in the ocean.:D Don't worry about running into a nuclear sub, they operate well offshore in deep water.:lol:

Not always! They do come home sometime. I've had them surface in front of me just outside San Diego.

BMG - 8-5-2008 at 01:55 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Alan
Quote:
Originally posted by Cypress
oxxo, Epizootic waves are what you're referring to.:D Sort of a combination of waves converging at a given point in the ocean.:D Don't worry about running into a nuclear sub, they operate well offshore in deep water.:lol:

Not always! They do come home sometime. I've had them surface in front of me just outside San Diego.


The nuclear submarine USS Greenville struck and sunk the Ehime Maru, a Japanese fishing vessel about ten miles off of Diamond Head, Oahu on Friday, February 9, 2001.

Cypress - 8-5-2008 at 02:14 PM

BMG, Yes, it was a horrific event.:(

Mango - 8-5-2008 at 06:58 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Sharksbaja
Those are called "sneaker waves". They are much more common than a rogue wave and occur on the shore. They take lives every year in the PNW.

[Edited on 8-5-2008 by Sharksbaja]


Yep, I've seen a few sneaker waves along the far Northern California coast. They tend to happen in certain areas more than others and can be a serious hazard to anyone standing on a rocky shore.

The best advice.. is never turn your back on the ocean.. i.e. like when taking photos.

bancoduo - 8-5-2008 at 07:19 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Sharksbaja
Those are called "sneaker waves". They are much more common than a rogue wave and occur on the shore. They take lives every year in the PNW.

[Edited on 8-5-2008 by Sharksbaja]
I got nailed by one in Florence ore. on my first visit to the PNW. If you're curious about rogue waves try body-surfing the WEDGE, same theory but lots of them.:o I'm talking ROUGE waves not sneakers.

[Edited on 8-6-2008 by bancoduo]

DianaT - 8-5-2008 at 07:26 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Mango
Quote:
Originally posted by Sharksbaja
Those are called "sneaker waves". They are much more common than a rogue wave and occur on the shore. They take lives every year in the PNW.

[Edited on 8-5-2008 by Sharksbaja]


Yep, I've seen a few sneaker waves along the far Northern California coast. They tend to happen in certain areas more than others and can be a serious hazard to anyone standing on a rocky shore.

The best advice.. is never turn your back on the ocean.. i.e. like when taking photos.


Many years ago when we saw the warning sign on a southern Oregon coast we didn't see how it was possible. The cliff was so tall and the water way far down, looked so calm.

As John stood on the edge of the cliff, I took the picture right as one of those sneaker waves engulfed John. Fortunately, it did not take John away---instead, he was soaked, and very cold. Wet Levi's are not very comfortable on a cold windy winter day.

I like the picture I have, he doesn't!

Diane

[Edited on 8-6-2008 by jdtrotter]

BMG - 8-5-2008 at 07:50 PM

Quote:

I'm talking ROUGE waves not sneakers.


Do they only occur during a red tide?

CaboRon - 8-5-2008 at 07:51 PM

Although they do not like to broadcast it .... even the thousand foot ocean liners get hit occasionaly .... last year , well you can watch it for yourself ....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvtwo2ugwU8

or

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7533945/

or

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A61873-2005Apr...

These things are really impresive .... just a few months ago a resident of Todos Santos was drowned by one of these. Never turn your back on the ocean.

CaboRon



[Edited on 8-6-2008 by CaboRon]

baitcast - 8-6-2008 at 06:14 AM

1958 found me on the USS Chickasaw a ocean going tug boat,we had just left Hong Kong and was headed north to Tokyo by way of the Formosa str.

I had the 12-4 wheel watch,moon was full and the wind was up,rough but nothing we hadden seen before,tugs are not designed for a pleasure cruise so we were used to rough rides.

But this night was a little different:lol:we wallowed around in the troughs for what seemed hours,than it happened,at the bottom of a trough we looked up but could not see the top of the next wave.

I was not on the wheel at the time so was able to brace myself,everyone on the watch let out a yell as we went up that thing,truly scary,the wave went completely over the wheel house:o I thought for a moment we were going over backwards but it was not to be.

Things just settled down after that,just a bummpy ride,I was reminded of that night when the movie Perfect Storm came out,I love the ocean but she must be respected at all times,for sure.
Rob

rob - 8-6-2008 at 08:55 AM

I used to day out of the the Royal Cape Yacht club in Cape Town, and met several round-the-world sailors (in the bar) ALL of whom described the leg from Durban to Cape Town as the most dangerous piece of ocean they had ever sailed on - the area due to conflicting currents and trade winds, is known for rogue waves. Two had encountered rogue waves, and one trimaran had actually capsized.

My grandfather (late as usual) paid a Durban cabbie double fare to get him down to the harbor so he could board his ship for Cape Town to take up his new job. He missed the boat by 20 minutes, so he used to tell us.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waratah_(ship)

rob - 8-6-2008 at 08:58 AM

Sorry - that points to the wrong WIkipedia, it should be

"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waratah_(ship)"

viabaja - 8-6-2008 at 09:45 AM

1974 November - US Navy - Bering Seas up near Atka Iskland. USS Deliver ARS-23 a 213' rescue salvage vessel. We took a roque wave broadside. Estimated 60-75'. Green water covered all decks. Listed to 40 deg then rightened. 45+ and she keeps going over! Had to be generated from a previous storm a few days earlier.

It truly gives one a very healthy respect for our planets' oceans.

Look up the story about the Munchen, a German freighter that was considered almost unsinkable. It hit a roque wave and did not survive with the exception a single life boat that had ripped from it's davits which were 75-100 feet above the water line!!

CaboRon - 8-6-2008 at 12:31 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BMG
Quote:
Originally posted by Alan
Quote:
Originally posted by Cypress
oxxo, Epizootic waves are what you're referring to.:D Sort of a combination of waves converging at a given point in the ocean.:D Don't worry about running into a nuclear sub, they operate well offshore in deep water.:lol:

Not always! They do come home sometime. I've had them surface in front of me just outside San Diego.


The nuclear submarine USS Greenville struck and sunk the Ehime Maru, a Japanese fishing vessel about ten miles off of Diamond Head, Oahu on Friday, February 9, 2001.


As I recall the story the Greenville was (during an excersize) performing a manuver where the boat is executing an "emergency surface "

Had nothing to do with a rogue wave.

It was indeed a tragic day.

CaboRon



[Edited on 8-6-2008 by CaboRon]

Cypress - 8-6-2008 at 04:11 PM

CaboRon, The Capt. of the Greenville was "showing off" to a group of VIP's that were aboard for a PR cruise.:D Sad. Of all the miles of empty ocean, he came up right under a boat loaded with Japanese students.:no: