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Cypress
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Rogue Waves
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".
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bajajudy
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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.
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Cypress
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bajajudy, Thanks for the story.  What size vessel?
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oxxo
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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.
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Cypress
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oxxo, Epizootic waves are what you're referring to. Sort of a combination of waves
converging at a given point in the ocean. Don't worry about running into a nuclear
sub, they operate well offshore in deep water.
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bajajudy
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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
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Bruce R Leech
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yes 3 waves at deferent times back in my sailing days, all in the pacific. 2 of them were in calm seas.
Bruce R Leech
Ensenada
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Cypress
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When you get out there a ways, it's a different world.
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BMG
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Never have seen a rogue wave.
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.
I think the world is run by C- students.
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bajajudy
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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
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Santiago
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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.
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805gregg
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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.
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JaraHurd
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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..
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bajamigo
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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.
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Sharksbaja
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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]
DON\'T SQUINT! Give yer eyes a break!
Try holding down [control] key and toggle the [+ and -] keys
Viva Mulege!
Nomads\' Sunsets
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Alan
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Cypress
oxxo, Epizootic waves are what you're referring to. Sort of a combination of waves
converging at a given point in the ocean. Don't worry about running into a nuclear
sub, they operate well offshore in deep water. |
Not always! They do come home sometime. I've had them surface in front of me just outside San Diego.
In Memory of E-57
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BMG
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Alan
| Quote: | Originally posted by Cypress
oxxo, Epizootic waves are what you're referring to. Sort of a combination of waves
converging at a given point in the ocean. Don't worry about running into a nuclear
sub, they operate well offshore in deep water. |
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.
I think the world is run by C- students.
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Cypress
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BMG, Yes, it was a horrific event.
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Mango
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| 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.
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bancoduo
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| 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. I'm talking ROUGE waves not sneakers.
[Edited on 8-6-2008 by bancoduo]
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