That must have been some wave.

Later,

Tom

------------------------------------------
'Freak' wave rocks cruise

70-footer hits N.Y.-bound ship

BY JONATHAN LEMIRE
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

A "freak wave" more than 70 feet high slammed a luxury cruise ship
steaming for New York yesterday, flooding cabins, injuring passengers
and forcing the liner to stop for emergency repairs.
The Norwegian Dawn, an opulent ocean liner almost 1,000 feet long,
limped into Charleston, S.C., yesterday afternoon after it hit vicious
seas in an overnight storm off Florida - then was creamed by the rogue
wave after dawn.

"[My room] was destroyed by stuff getting thrown all over the place,"
passenger James Fraley, of Keansburg, N.J., told NBC News before
embarking on the 12-hour drive home because he didn't want to set foot
on the ship again.

"It was pure chaos."

The ship, which sailed from New York last Sunday with 2,500
passengers, had been due back today.

It weathered most of a wild storm that featured gale-force winds and
choppy seas. But then the vessel, longer than three football fields,
was suddenly smacked by the "freak wave," said Norwegian Cruise Line
spokeswoman Susan Robison. It broke a pair of windows and flooded 62
cabins, she said.

"The sea had actually calmed down when the wave seemed to come out of
thin air at daybreak," Robison said. "Our captain, who has 20 years on
the job, said he never saw anything like it."

The tidal wave wrecked windows on the ninth and 10th floors and
wreaked havoc below decks, destroying furniture, the onboard theater,
and a store that sold expensive gifts.

It also injured four passengers and terrified scores more, many of
whom lost belongings and were being flown back to New York early this
morning.

"My daughter said people were freaking out," said Mel Blanck, 74,
whose daughter, Caren Hogan, 42, of Matawan, N.J., was vacationing
aboard with her family. "She said some doors were ripped off and
broken glass was everywhere."

In a message Hogan left on her parents' voice mail, she said her ship
"feels like the Titanic" and described "water running everywhere, with
people getting hurt and panicking."

"She felt lucky that she and her children weren't hurt," said Blanck,
whose daughter had called from South Carolina last night. "She's calm
now, but she said it was a nightmare."

The floating city of a ship, which was commissioned in 2002, left New
York a week ago for Orlando, Miami and the Bahamas. It had started
heading home when it ran into the wicked weather.

During the storm, one frightened passenger called a relative who
relayed the information to the Coast Guard, which escorted the ship
into Charleston yesterday.

"The ocean is unforgiving; it doesn't care who is out there," said
Petty Officer Bobby Nash of the Coast Guard in Florida. "This could
have happened to anyone."

Repairs were done last night, and the ship resumed it's voyage around
midnight after a team of Coast Guard inspectors gave it approval.

Many of the Norwegian Dawn's passengers remained on the ship while it
was readied for the sea again, Robison said. The battered vessel is
expected to return to New York tomorrow.

All passengers would be given a partial refund, a credit for a future
trip and access to the ship's open bar, Robison said.

I wonder how the get a 1000 ft boat to Orlando? Must be one hell of a
trailer. :-)


"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
That must have been some wave.

Later,

Tom

------------------------------------------
'Freak' wave rocks cruise

70-footer hits N.Y.-bound ship

BY JONATHAN LEMIRE
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

A "freak wave" more than 70 feet high slammed a luxury cruise ship
steaming for New York yesterday, flooding cabins, injuring passengers
and forcing the liner to stop for emergency repairs.
The Norwegian Dawn, an opulent ocean liner almost 1,000 feet long,
limped into Charleston, S.C., yesterday afternoon after it hit vicious
seas in an overnight storm off Florida - then was creamed by the rogue
wave after dawn.

"[My room] was destroyed by stuff getting thrown all over the place,"
passenger James Fraley, of Keansburg, N.J., told NBC News before
embarking on the 12-hour drive home because he didn't want to set foot
on the ship again.

"It was pure chaos."

The ship, which sailed from New York last Sunday with 2,500
passengers, had been due back today.

It weathered most of a wild storm that featured gale-force winds and
choppy seas. But then the vessel, longer than three football fields,
was suddenly smacked by the "freak wave," said Norwegian Cruise Line
spokeswoman Susan Robison. It broke a pair of windows and flooded 62
cabins, she said.

"The sea had actually calmed down when the wave seemed to come out of
thin air at daybreak," Robison said. "Our captain, who has 20 years on
the job, said he never saw anything like it."

The tidal wave wrecked windows on the ninth and 10th floors and
wreaked havoc below decks, destroying furniture, the onboard theater,
and a store that sold expensive gifts.

It also injured four passengers and terrified scores more, many of
whom lost belongings and were being flown back to New York early this
morning.

"My daughter said people were freaking out," said Mel Blanck, 74,
whose daughter, Caren Hogan, 42, of Matawan, N.J., was vacationing
aboard with her family. "She said some doors were ripped off and
broken glass was everywhere."

In a message Hogan left on her parents' voice mail, she said her ship
"feels like the Titanic" and described "water running everywhere, with
people getting hurt and panicking."

"She felt lucky that she and her children weren't hurt," said Blanck,
whose daughter had called from South Carolina last night. "She's calm
now, but she said it was a nightmare."

The floating city of a ship, which was commissioned in 2002, left New
York a week ago for Orlando, Miami and the Bahamas. It had started
heading home when it ran into the wicked weather.

During the storm, one frightened passenger called a relative who
relayed the information to the Coast Guard, which escorted the ship
into Charleston yesterday.

"The ocean is unforgiving; it doesn't care who is out there," said
Petty Officer Bobby Nash of the Coast Guard in Florida. "This could
have happened to anyone."

Repairs were done last night, and the ship resumed it's voyage around
midnight after a team of Coast Guard inspectors gave it approval.

Many of the Norwegian Dawn's passengers remained on the ship while it
was readied for the sea again, Robison said. The battered vessel is
expected to return to New York tomorrow.

All passengers would be given a partial refund, a credit for a future
trip and access to the ship's open bar, Robison said.

Oh oh.

Expect a couple of familiar voices crying out that such waves don't
exist. :-)

On 17 Apr 2005 08:07:02 -0700, wrote:

Expect a couple of familiar voices crying out that such waves don't
exist. :-)

Fortunately they did not exist today on the Gulf of Mexico. We did
see a few in the 3 to 4 foot range which caused Mrs B to stow some
things that were flying around the cabin. Altogether though, it was a
nice ride from Boca Grande down the outside of Cayo Costa, North
Captiva and Captiva Islands, Sannibel Island and back home. The gulf
was a lovely iridescent blue green color punctuated with the white
tops of wind driven waves from a northerly blowing 20 kt +. We could
have gone inside, down the inter coastal waterway, but we're trying to
shake things down for the trip north next month.

Saturday night we were anchored in Pelican Bay at the north end of
Cayo Costa, taking wind gusts of 30 kt plus. This was the first
combat test of the new Spade S200 anchor (120 lbs), and 3/8 HT chain.
The Spade S200 bit hard on the very first set and never budged an
inch. It came up this morning with a huge glob of clay on it from
being so firmly dug in. The windlass refused to pull it out but we
snubbed the chain at near vertical and reversed it out with the DD671s
and twin 28 inch props. No problem at all, even at idle speed they
generate a lot of thrust.

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On 17 Apr 2005 08:07:02 -0700, wrote:

Expect a couple of familiar voices crying out that such waves don't
exist. :-)

Fortunately they did not exist today on the Gulf of Mexico. We did
see a few in the 3 to 4 foot range which caused Mrs B to stow some
things that were flying around the cabin. Altogether though, it was a
nice ride from Boca Grande down the outside of Cayo Costa, North
Captiva and Captiva Islands, Sannibel Island and back home. The gulf
was a lovely iridescent blue green color punctuated with the white
tops of wind driven waves from a northerly blowing 20 kt +. We could
have gone inside, down the inter coastal waterway, but we're trying to
shake things down for the trip north next month.

Saturday night we were anchored in Pelican Bay at the north end of
Cayo Costa, taking wind gusts of 30 kt plus. This was the first
combat test of the new Spade S200 anchor (120 lbs), and 3/8 HT chain.
The Spade S200 bit hard on the very first set and never budged an
inch. It came up this morning with a huge glob of clay on it from
being so firmly dug in. The windlass refused to pull it out but we
snubbed the chain at near vertical and reversed it out with the DD671s
and twin 28 inch props. No problem at all, even at idle speed they
generate a lot of thrust.


I was out Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, but no more than 5 miles from shore.
On Friday and Saturday, that strong NNW wind had it bumpy right up to the
shore. On Sunday, the wind shifted to the NE and the waves were flat out to
about a mile. Running perpendicular to the wind made for quite a wet ride.

It's been a helluva windy winter...especially on the weekends.

The following was excerpted from a CBC story on the cruise ship:

"According to its satellite surveillance, the European Space
Agency estimates 'rogue' waves can reach up to 35 metres
high and destroy about 200 ships a year."


Chuck


NOYB wrote:
"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...

On 17 Apr 2005 08:07:02 -0700, wrote:


Expect a couple of familiar voices crying out that such waves don't
exist. :-)

Fortunately they did not exist today on the Gulf of Mexico. We did
see a few in the 3 to 4 foot range which caused Mrs B to stow some
things that were flying around the cabin. Altogether though, it was a
nice ride from Boca Grande down the outside of Cayo Costa, North
Captiva and Captiva Islands, Sannibel Island and back home. The gulf
was a lovely iridescent blue green color punctuated with the white
tops of wind driven waves from a northerly blowing 20 kt +. We could
have gone inside, down the inter coastal waterway, but we're trying to
shake things down for the trip north next month.

Saturday night we were anchored in Pelican Bay at the north end of
Cayo Costa, taking wind gusts of 30 kt plus. This was the first
combat test of the new Spade S200 anchor (120 lbs), and 3/8 HT chain.
The Spade S200 bit hard on the very first set and never budged an
inch. It came up this morning with a huge glob of clay on it from
being so firmly dug in. The windlass refused to pull it out but we
snubbed the chain at near vertical and reversed it out with the DD671s
and twin 28 inch props. No problem at all, even at idle speed they
generate a lot of thrust.



I was out Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, but no more than 5 miles from shore.
On Friday and Saturday, that strong NNW wind had it bumpy right up to the
shore. On Sunday, the wind shifted to the NE and the waves were flat out to
about a mile. Running perpendicular to the wind made for quite a wet ride.

It's been a helluva windy winter...especially on the weekends.

Thats a typically sloppy, exaggerated news report. The oft-cited ESA
report found 10 waves 25 meters or more and extrapolated from that.
Roughly 100 ships a year are sunk, and while rogue waves are the
possible cause of many, that's a long way from proving that such waves
"destroy 200 ships a year."




chuck wrote:
The following was excerpted from a CBC story on the cruise ship:

"According to its satellite surveillance, the European Space Agency
estimates 'rogue' waves can reach up to 35 metres high and destroy about
200 ships a year."


Chuck



NOYB wrote:

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...

On 17 Apr 2005 08:07:02 -0700, wrote:


Expect a couple of familiar voices crying out that such waves don't
exist. :-)

On Sun, 17 Apr 2005 23:28:33 -0400, Wayne.B
wrote:

On 17 Apr 2005 08:07:02 -0700, wrote:

Expect a couple of familiar voices crying out that such waves don't
exist. :-)

Fortunately they did not exist today on the Gulf of Mexico. We did
see a few in the 3 to 4 foot range which caused Mrs B to stow some
things that were flying around the cabin. Altogether though, it was a
nice ride from Boca Grande down the outside of Cayo Costa, North
Captiva and Captiva Islands, Sannibel Island and back home. The gulf
was a lovely iridescent blue green color punctuated with the white
tops of wind driven waves from a northerly blowing 20 kt +. We could
have gone inside, down the inter coastal waterway, but we're trying to
shake things down for the trip north next month.

Saturday night we were anchored in Pelican Bay at the north end of
Cayo Costa, taking wind gusts of 30 kt plus. This was the first
combat test of the new Spade S200 anchor (120 lbs), and 3/8 HT chain.
The Spade S200 bit hard on the very first set and never budged an
inch. It came up this morning with a huge glob of clay on it from
being so firmly dug in. The windlass refused to pull it out but we
snubbed the chain at near vertical and reversed it out with the DD671s
and twin 28 inch props. No problem at all, even at idle speed they
generate a lot of thrust.

That last part read like a Tom Clancy novel. :)

Later,

Tom

On Mon, 18 Apr 2005 10:35:21 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:

That last part read like a Tom Clancy novel. :)

===================

Thanks (I think). One of the highlights of the trip home on Sunday
afternoon was spotting a green object floating in the Gulf of Mexico
about two miles south west of Sanibel Island. Every once in a while
the wind would get under it and flip it over a few times as it sped
downwind into open water. We altered course to investigate, thinking
it could possibly be an overturned boat or kayak. When we got closer
it turned out to be a floating pool toy, an eight foot inflatable
plastic alligator to be precise. We immediately rescued the gator,
saving him from near certain immigration difficulties at the Cuban or
Mexican border within a few days.

The gator will be named in due time and officially adopted as ship's
mascot. Meanwhile he's resting comfortably in the pool outside my
office as a reminder of a windy, fun day on the Gulf.

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
news
On Mon, 18 Apr 2005 10:35:21 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:

That last part read like a Tom Clancy novel. :)

===================

Thanks (I think). One of the highlights of the trip home on Sunday
afternoon was spotting a green object floating in the Gulf of Mexico
about two miles south west of Sanibel Island. Every once in a while
the wind would get under it and flip it over a few times as it sped
downwind into open water. We altered course to investigate, thinking
it could possibly be an overturned boat or kayak. When we got closer
it turned out to be a floating pool toy, an eight foot inflatable
plastic alligator to be precise. We immediately rescued the gator,
saving him from near certain immigration difficulties at the Cuban or
Mexican border within a few days.

The gator will be named in due time and officially adopted as ship's
mascot. Meanwhile he's resting comfortably in the pool outside my
office as a reminder of a windy, fun day on the Gulf.


I saw something almost as cool: a floating armadillo about 7 miles SW of
Matanzas Pass. He must have been trying to swim to the US from Mexico and
didn't make it.