The Rogue wave and the sailor

[Dan Mosby]

While cruising through some sailing vids on the %$#@Tube, I ran across a video concerning the "Draupner Wave" of 1995, which was the first "rogue" wave ever documented thouroughly with any kind of measuring equipment.

The pic demonstrates that a rogue wave is 2 to 3 times greater than the "average" set of waves...which becomes problematic in an evironment with, say, 10 meter seas. That's 90 meters of Neptune's fury coming down on you with about 100 tons per m2 of force. Not good.

Apparently these giants are more likely to form when areas of strong ocean current encounters strong opposing winds. High latitudes are especially susceptible due to the rotating masses of air at the poles, which makes places like the north sea and both the southern capes especially dangerous. Combine the storm season with the gulf stream, or any similar stream in the pacific, and you have all the ingredients you need to experience a rogue wave at lower lats.

Since these things are capable of taking out super-tankers, cruise ships, and oil platforms, the traveler in the 40 foot yacht would be wise to plan their journeys extremely carefully around those parts of the ocean susceptible to strong currents and storm winds, as a 90 foot wave might just be a bit much for the ol' westsail 32.

Anybody ever encounter this phenomena personally? If so, where?

Be careful out there, and mindful of the current.