On Sun, 23 Aug 2009 22:43:19 -0300, "Don White"
wrote:

that night, the CG was looking for 4 people who'd been swept out to
sea by rip tides from coney island....these were big guys playing
water polo in 4' of water....

so tidal currents are DANGEROUS

The people swept away in Maine were at the "Blow Hole", a tourist
attraction in Acadia Park that I have visited a number of times. The
spot where most people stand is on a cliff about 20 feet above the
normal high tide line, and surrounded by very solid stainless steel
railings. The park rangers in one news account described it as a
rogue wave, presumably because it was much higher than average.