Sailboat about to be clobbered by a 100-foot rouge wave (pic)

[watersofdiego]

Caught in a hurricane and already demasted from a knockdown here we have a 30-foot sailboat in extreme danger. Look at the wave in the foreground. Not too big. But look at that monster wave in back!

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by watersofdiego

Caught in a hurricane and already demasted from a knockdown here we have a 30-foot sailboat in extreme danger. Look at the wave in the foreground. Not too big. But look at that monster wave in back!

Any idea why the boat is abeam to the waves? That wouldn't be my first choice ...

[annsni]

MOMMY!!!!!!!! **SHUDDER**

[Paul Elliott]

Originally Posted by Rakuflames

Any idea why the boat is abeam to the waves? That wouldn't be my first choice ...

I would guess that having no mast, no sails, and possibly bits of the broken rig hanging overboard would contribute to a general lack of control.

[Teknav]

In a case like this, he/she should have had a pair of oars on board. You'd be surprised how much maneuverability you can do with old fashion oars; place one by the tiller and the other one to row and change the boat's direction. Simple canoeing principles! That's all folks!

Mauritz
Knows and sees all...

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by Paul Elliott

I would guess that having no mast, no sails, and possibly bits of the broken rig hanging overboard would contribute to a general lack of control.

You know, I was so horrified by the sight of the wave that I didn't even pay attention to that!

Hopefully this is case where they *did* abandon ship ...

[roverhi]

Don't see any evidence of the rig from the photo. Appears that they jettisoned it. It is not a high res. photo so may just be lack of pixels that is hiding it.

Also see no sign that they were dragging warps or anything to slow the boat down and hold its stern to the waves. That could very well be why they were rolled and lost the rig in the first place. There is some disturbance on the face of the oncoming wave aft of the boat that could be a drogue or something though doubt it. A drogue or warps should have kept the boat stern to the waves and would be more to windward.

In any case, no conditions I ever want to experience. With wind and waves that big, survival is as much luck as preperation and execution, no pun intended.

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by roverhi

Don't see any evidence of the rig from the photo. Appears that they jettisoned it. It is not a high res. photo so may just be lack of pixels that is hiding it.

Also see no sign that they were dragging warps or anything to slow the boat down and hold its stern to the waves. That could very well be why they were rolled and lost the rig in the first place. There is some disturbance on the face of the oncoming wave aft of the boat that could be a drogue or something though doubt it. A drogue or warps should have kept the boat stern to the waves and would be more to windward.

In any case, no conditions I ever want to experience. With wind and waves that big, survival is as much luck as preperation and execution, no pun intended.

Given that it's a hurricane, does that monster wall of water still qualify as a rogue wave? I thought true rogue waves had no apparent source of generation and in fact were thought to be a myth for many years. But recently (last two years or so) I have heard newscasters describe a 20' wave as a "rogue wave.
I also heard rogue used interchangeably with tsunamai.

[Palarran]

There are about 20 threads on CF which describe rogue waves if you are interested. In any case, I would guess that is more like a 50' wave, not a 100'er. Not that it matters much as your still in deep poo poo.

[Wotname]

Interesting post. Any idea what happened next? Was the crew still onboard?

I am surprised they were dismasted by a knockdown. A knockdown shouldn't cause one to loose the rig; a capsize quite possibly would.

As you say, the foreground wave doesn't look too serious and the post suggests this was the "normal size" at the time.

Presumably the 100' figure has been calculated and is approximately correct but again, it doesn't look like it is seriously breaking or is "hollow" or "backless" so shouldn't cause anymore structural damage to the boat.

Regardless, I would rather be the photographer than the subject this time!

[zeehag]

if , as they said, it was a hfurycame situation, that wouldnt be a rogue. it would be a storm sea. the sea doesnt have breaking tops so it isnt as bad as a breaking huge sea on the beam. seems the furycame left the boat in a wondrous sea state.
i wouldnt want to be in that situation.

there is a big problem in this world with sensationalist out of context reporting. it would be nice to know what the owner/operator of the boat did or was doing about his situation, mebbe even what the real situation was.

[Ocean Girl]

What is the source of this pic? Something doesn't look right.

[atoll]

step up to the liferaft.............

[MarkJ]

As Zeehag says its not a rogue wave its a storm wave.
As RoverHi says its not breaking. Nor did the previous wave. Yes it fluffed up a white cap and there would have been ten feet of foam, but thats not a breaking wave.

You dont need warps because the dismasted vessle has no way up.

I can't see a wind pattern on the wave.

I would chuck a sea anchor or whatever I could (or just the normal anchor ) out over the bow and try to get the bow into the waves. The its just a matter of hanging on till its calmer and clearing lines under the boat to start the engine and sail off into the nearest port.

Yes its scary, very very scary. Fatal? No.



Mark

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by Palarran

There are about 20 threads on CF which describe rogue waves if you are interested. In any case, I would guess that is more like a 50' wave, not a 100'er. Not that it matters much as your still in deep poo poo.

Never mind and thanks to all -- question answered.