Rouge Waves - Sailboats

[Sailman123]

News of the Rouge wave recently has sparked a thought... What would one do (if anything can be done) if you were sailing merrily along and over the starboard bow a 60 foot wave was beating down on you.... oye....

Sailman123

[thorJ30]

put pointy end straight at it.....

if time allowes start engine and give it all she has


thor

[Denr]

thorjthirty:

I think you''ve watched the movie "the perfect storm" one too many times!

[thorJ30]

lol Denr

when I wrote this I actually thought about that scene where the boat climbed up the huge wave ....

than again what else would you do ? try surfin ? usually doesnt work so well


Thor

[windtakler]

First I would have a few choice words to say. Followed by prayer, then hold on to something - hopefully the wheel. During this time I would have probably used the bathroom unexpectedly while just standing there. And if all came out the other side just fine I would wipe my forehead, clear the eyes and start looking for the next one.

[PDXSailing]

From what I''ve read (not experienced), it depends a great deal on the shape of the wave and if it is breaking. Even if the wave form is relatively steep, the boat may not have too many issues with rising over it. If the wave is breaking, it''s a totally different story, because the breaking part of the wave is going to have a nasty effect on the extent of your exposed freeboard, etc. Thus, the idea of taking it at an angle with your bow, or adjusting course to try to avoid the breaking part of the wave.

I bow to others with real experience, however. In terms of the cruise ship, I believe it was hit a large, breaking wave.

[sneuman]

i don''t honestly know what i would do, but i certainly wouldn''t take my hands off the wheel to pray!

[kimberlt]

I would run from the wave and try to keep the stern as square to the wave as possible. put the hatchboards in and make sure i am clipped in on a very short teather.
eric

[thorJ30]

run from the wave ..... you must be the only person in the world who hasnt seen the dramatic pics of the santana 23 under the golden gate bridge... she was also running .. at least she tried ...lol

[kimberlt]

thor30

I have seen the picture of the golden gate bridge guy. his problem was not the wave to his stern but the lack of water under his keel and the fact that he broached in front of the wave..

I am however one on the list who has been is seas well over 30 feet offshore. and 50 feet in the bay of biscay.
if you think about it-a drogue is deployed off the STREN of a boat and is meant to keep the stern square to huge oncoming waves.
I have deployed a jordan series drogue in storm conditions and can testify to the fact that they work in huge waves. the only problem is you get pooped a few times.
The drogue is basically like a helmsman that keeps the boat stern to the waves all the time.

please tell me about your huge wave experiences.
fair winds,
eric