"Capt. JG" wrote in message
...
"Joe" wrote in message
oups.com...
Tell me about the storm you survived at sea.
I'll toss one in..... if others do.

Sorry Rob and BB, maybe next subject.

Joe



Never had to... picked my weather window carefully. Avoided a squall
by staying home and dropping LSD at the right moment. g


Uh huh! Thought so.

Wilbur Hubbard

On 5 May 2007 19:36:29 -0700, Joe wrote:

Tell me about the storm you survived at sea.
I'll toss one in..... if others do.

Sorry Rob and BB, maybe next subject.

Joe


My late '60's introduction to sailing was the worst storm I've been
in.

My Bro in law, a good friend, and I, rig up a 17 foot yard built,
full keel wooden sailboat (still don't know what it was but a nice
classic design with a full, two berth cabin) and head out for
Chandeleur Island, 27 miles out in the gulf. I knew almost nothing
about sailing at the time. Marine stores closed so we couldn't get
fittings we need to complete the rig, however good friend says we can
get "adequate" stuff at Sears. He heads up there and buys a bag of
"heavy duty" turnbuckles (screen door type) to finish our standing
rigging.

Head out and have an ideal trip out. Meeting some people in a power
boat, they took the provisions and stuff. spend the night on the
island,do some crabbing, catch some specs, have a great time,then
start back in.

Power boat passes us going back in, they are "envious" at how ideal
we look sailing along.

About fifteen miles out, we are looking to the north and see nothing
but black. Not unusual, afternoon summer Gulf squall, usually quick,
probably be done by the time we get to it. Watching it we fail to
notice the seas building to our stern. Finally look back and see
unusual whitecapping seas behind us. In a matter of minutes seas are
cresting behind us at about twelve feet, can't see over them, standing
on the cabin when in the trough.

Wind starting to pick up, we double reef both sails and figure we are
OK. about that time, the two storms kind of meet, north and south and
all hell breaks loose. As might be suspected those turnbuckles are
the first thing to give up and we loose the top third of the mast
(wooden). We manage to get the main off, but jib is jammed and
wrapped around the mast stub. Ok, though, seems to be all the sail we
need to keep going. we make it through Ship Island pass, stormy,
lightening striking all around us. The power boat had turned into the
lee of ship Island to ride out the storm, but we did not have enough
control to turn more than a few degrees off downwind. Additionally, we
didn't have a rig left to sail in light air, so we just kept heading
north, passed within a couple of hundred yards of the power boat, and
we did not even see each other. The twelve miles from Ship Island
Pass to Gulfport, were, to say the least very exciting.

We were told later that the winds were sustained at 35 with gusts to
60.

Now, I've been in worse but given the inexperience of the entire crew,
the size of the boat, and the fact it was my first offshore venture,
it is the most memorable.

Frank

"Frank Boettcher" wrote in message
...
On 5 May 2007 19:36:29 -0700, Joe wrote:

Tell me about the storm you survived at sea.
I'll toss one in..... if others do.

Sorry Rob and BB, maybe next subject.

Joe


My late '60's introduction to sailing was the worst storm I've been
in.

My Bro in law, a good friend, and I, rig up a 17 foot yard built,
full keel wooden sailboat (still don't know what it was but a nice
classic design with a full, two berth cabin) and head out for
Chandeleur Island, 27 miles out in the gulf. I knew almost nothing
about sailing at the time. Marine stores closed so we couldn't get
fittings we need to complete the rig, however good friend says we can
get "adequate" stuff at Sears. He heads up there and buys a bag of
"heavy duty" turnbuckles (screen door type) to finish our standing
rigging.

Head out and have an ideal trip out. Meeting some people in a power
boat, they took the provisions and stuff. spend the night on the
island,do some crabbing, catch some specs, have a great time,then
start back in.

Power boat passes us going back in, they are "envious" at how ideal
we look sailing along.

About fifteen miles out, we are looking to the north and see nothing
but black. Not unusual, afternoon summer Gulf squall, usually quick,
probably be done by the time we get to it. Watching it we fail to
notice the seas building to our stern. Finally look back and see
unusual whitecapping seas behind us. In a matter of minutes seas are
cresting behind us at about twelve feet, can't see over them, standing
on the cabin when in the trough.

Wind starting to pick up, we double reef both sails and figure we are
OK. about that time, the two storms kind of meet, north and south and
all hell breaks loose. As might be suspected those turnbuckles are
the first thing to give up and we loose the top third of the mast
(wooden). We manage to get the main off, but jib is jammed and
wrapped around the mast stub. Ok, though, seems to be all the sail we
need to keep going. we make it through Ship Island pass, stormy,
lightening striking all around us. The power boat had turned into the
lee of ship Island to ride out the storm, but we did not have enough
control to turn more than a few degrees off downwind. Additionally, we
didn't have a rig left to sail in light air, so we just kept heading
north, passed within a couple of hundred yards of the power boat, and
we did not even see each other. The twelve miles from Ship Island
Pass to Gulfport, were, to say the least very exciting.

We were told later that the winds were sustained at 35 with gusts to
60.

Now, I've been in worse but given the inexperience of the entire crew,
the size of the boat, and the fact it was my first offshore venture,
it is the most memorable.

Frank

Sorry, but the Gulf is not classified as a Sea. Can't a single person
read a question and answer it with their experience of a storm AT SEA
like the man asked? Bunch of retards here, apparently.

Wilbur Hubbard

On May 6, 11:15 am, "Wilbur Hubbard"
wrote:
Sorry, but the Gulf is not classified as a Sea. Can't a single person
read a question and answer it with their experience of a storm AT SEA
like the man asked? Bunch of retards here, apparently.

Gosh. Then I guess my experiences in the Atlantic OCEAN and Pacific
OCEAN don't count because Wilbutt the Arbiter of All Things Nautical
sez they're not labelled a "sea" as he defines it; they're just
"oceans."

I say, if it's part of panthalassa, it's "the sea;" or more simply,
any salt water counts. And if you wanna share a scary story about "the
storm you survived" (which is after all the actual title of Joe's
original post), no matter where it happened, I for one am interested
in reading it.

And why am I reading and responding to anything "Wilbur" says anyway?
Must've forgetten to take my meds this morning. Think I'll go correct
that now.

Frank - the other one

On 6 May 2007 15:34:29 -0700, Frank wrote:

On May 6, 11:15 am, "Wilbur Hubbard"
wrote:
Sorry, but the Gulf is not classified as a Sea. Can't a single person
read a question and answer it with their experience of a storm AT SEA
like the man asked? Bunch of retards here, apparently.

Gosh. Then I guess my experiences in the Atlantic OCEAN and Pacific
OCEAN don't count because Wilbutt the Arbiter of All Things Nautical
sez they're not labelled a "sea" as he defines it; they're just
"oceans."

I say, if it's part of panthalassa, it's "the sea;" or more simply,
any salt water counts. And if you wanna share a scary story about "the
storm you survived" (which is after all the actual title of Joe's
original post), no matter where it happened, I for one am interested
in reading it.

And why am I reading and responding to anything "Wilbur" says anyway?
Must've forgetten to take my meds this morning. Think I'll go correct
that now.

Frank - the other one

Hey, it's just Neal's latest sockpuppet. No one pays any attention to
it.

The experience sold me on sailing. Hey, experienced sailors told me
it probably would not get any worse than that, so why not?

Frank B.

"Joe" wrote in message
oups.com...
Tell me about the storm you survived at sea.
I'll toss one in..... if others do.

Sorry Rob and BB, maybe next subject.

Joe


i @ sea for katrina. kruze ship turn back, go to porto riko not porto
vyarta. sum big waves. no trubbles. peace of cake. 8 6 mealz a day.
drink peena kolotaz all day. much fun. 1 arm bandit pore out money on
me.

todd

The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
Of the big lake they call Gitche Gumee
The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead
When the skies of November turn gloomy.

With a load of iron ore - 26,000 tons more
Than the Edmund Fitzgerald weighed empty
That good ship and true was a bone to be chewed
When the gales of November came early

The ship was the pride of the American side
Coming back from some mill in Wisconson
As the big freighters go it was bigger than most
With a crew and the Captain well seasoned.

Concluding some terms with a couple of steel firms
When they left fully loaded for Cleveland
And later that night when the ships bell rang
Could it be the North Wind they'd been feeling.

The wind in the wires made a tattletale sound
And a wave broke over the railing
And every man knew, as the Captain did, too,
T'was the witch of November come stealing.

The dawn came late and the breakfast had to wait
When the gales of November came slashing
When afternoon came it was freezing rain
In the face of a hurricane West Wind

When supper time came the old cook came on deck
Saying fellows it's too rough to feed ya
At 7PM a main hatchway caved in
He said fellas it's been good to know ya.

The Captain wired in he had water coming in
And the good ship and crew was in peril
And later that night when his lights went out of sight
Came the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

Does anyone know where the love of God goes
When the words turn the minutes to hours
The searchers all say they'd have made Whitefish Bay
If they'd fifteen more miles behind her.

They might have split up or they might have capsized
They may have broke deep and took water
And all that remains is the faces and the names
Of the wives and the sons and the daughters.

Lake Huron rolls, Superior sings
In the ruins of her ice water mansion
Old Michigan steams like a young man's dreams,
The islands and bays are for sportsmen.

And farther below Lake Ontario
Takes in what Lake Erie can send her
And the iron boats go as the mariners all know
With the gales of November remembered.

In a musty old hall in Detroit they prayed
In the Maritime Sailors' Cathedral
The church bell chimed, 'til it rang 29 times
For each man on the Edmund Fitzgerald.

The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
Of the big lake they call Gitche Gumee
Superior, they say, never gives up her dead
When the gales of November come early.

Scout wrote:
The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
Of the big lake they call Gitche Gumee
The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead
When the skies of November turn gloomy.

With a load of iron ore - 26,000 tons more
Than the Edmund Fitzgerald weighed empty
That good ship and true was a bone to be chewed
When the gales of November came early

The ship was the pride of the American side
Coming back from some mill in Wisconson
As the big freighters go it was bigger than most
With a crew and the Captain well seasoned.

Concluding some terms with a couple of steel firms
When they left fully loaded for Cleveland
And later that night when the ships bell rang
Could it be the North Wind they'd been feeling.

The wind in the wires made a tattletale sound
And a wave broke over the railing
And every man knew, as the Captain did, too,
T'was the witch of November come stealing.

The dawn came late and the breakfast had to wait
When the gales of November came slashing
When afternoon came it was freezing rain
In the face of a hurricane West Wind

When supper time came the old cook came on deck
Saying fellows it's too rough to feed ya
At 7PM a main hatchway caved in
He said fellas it's been good to know ya.

The Captain wired in he had water coming in
And the good ship and crew was in peril
And later that night when his lights went out of sight
Came the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

Does anyone know where the love of God goes
When the words turn the minutes to hours
The searchers all say they'd have made Whitefish Bay
If they'd fifteen more miles behind her.

They might have split up or they might have capsized
They may have broke deep and took water
And all that remains is the faces and the names
Of the wives and the sons and the daughters.

Lake Huron rolls, Superior sings
In the ruins of her ice water mansion
Old Michigan steams like a young man's dreams,
The islands and bays are for sportsmen.

And farther below Lake Ontario
Takes in what Lake Erie can send her
And the iron boats go as the mariners all know
With the gales of November remembered.

In a musty old hall in Detroit they prayed
In the Maritime Sailors' Cathedral
The church bell chimed, 'til it rang 29 times
For each man on the Edmund Fitzgerald.

The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
Of the big lake they call Gitche Gumee
Superior, they say, never gives up her dead
When the gales of November come early.


Yep...sailing in ichigan is a wonderful thing! Freighters bust in half
but the rest of us walk away from these events with glorious tales to
tell...
Gordy Lightfoot sails his boat in Lake Ontario...I think it's tamer there...

"katy" wrote in message
...

Scout wrote:
The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down

[snip]

Gordy Lightfoot sails his boat in Lake Ontario...I think it's tamer
there...

I camped Ontario and thought it to be beautiful sailing grounds.
Just wasn't happening on that trip.
Scout

On May 5, 9:36 pm, Joe wrote:
Tell me about the storm you survived at sea.
I'll toss one in..... if others do.

Sorry Rob and BB, maybe next subject.

Joe

Ok I have a couple to share. First was in the N. Sea heading to Wick
Scotland. We hit a 60+ fter on a 225 ft supply anchor boat. It hit the
wheelhouse so hard it blew in four windows and ripped 20 ft of weld
open at the base of the wheelhouse and bent the visor up straight. The
skipper was cut up pretty bad by the glass, I ducked and only got
wet.

Second Terry and I just before we bought a 32ft layfette skiff shrimp
boat we took her about 110 miles out into the gulf of mexico to do
some snapper fishing. Also brought along the owner. This was a fast
boat 27kts. We did not get to fish but about 30 min when we noticed a
horizon to horizon black wall of coulds heading towards us. We untied
from the rig and had almost an hour at full speed to try to get to SW
pass of the mississippi. Whenthe front hit we had in no time 20-30 ft
seas. It took us 4 hours to get out and over 24 to get back in. The
owner wanted to ditch the boat and go up on a rig, but it to
dangerious to try to transfer to a rig, and I told him if he did we
were staying on the boat and claiming full salvage.

Then hurricane Alicia, 1981 I think. I was running a 165 standby boat
for mobil and they needed up to evac the rig so held us on location as
the storm buildt around us. It got so bad the liferings normally on
toss racks on the bridge wings were fouled in the mast, also tore off
both radars.

But the worst was in the South China Sea 1979. We were cought at the
dock as the storm hit, no being able to light off the boilers fast
enough, and many crew members strageling back to the ship. One fellow
was killed on a tug trying to get us away from the dock, we caved
about 3 ft deep 800 feet of 3 ft thick concrete dock as we shoved in
all the water and sewer pipes. We finally with the assistance of 4
fleet tug got underway. That night seas were running in the 60-80 ft
range. It's kinda of scary lookiong down a cargo handling passage way
on the ship and seeing the whole ship twist and bow several feet. On
after look out the waves were tower 10 stories above you then you
would fly up them and almost go airborne as the stern crested the
wave.

I had to be tied to that stancion right next to the stern anchor to
keep from being flung overboard... http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/s...37-gompers.jpg

Why they had an aft looking that night was beyond me, if anyone went
over there was no way they would be recovered.

Joe