I love rough weather like that, the deck falls out from under your feet a microsecond or so before you go down to meet it and by then the deckis coming back up. Better than a roller-coaster ride. JD
Imagine what it is like way down below deck, at the stern, when the prop lifts out of the water. That is when you appreciate the designers, the ship builders and your fellow crew. Not picked for any racial sexual reason.
We were 53,000 tons of haze grey & headed down to Sourh America in 2004 when we got hit with a pretty good storm. It was just after evening chow & I was doing maintenance schedules in my shop on the 3rd deck by the main spaces. Even 500’ back from the bow we felt the ship climb a good sized wave & then dip, followed by a massive crash. I was up the ladder & into the second deck p-way before I knew it, ran headfirst into our HT1 who had the same idea that I did. We got up to the fo’c’sle & did a once over then headed up to the bridge. Turns out the trough between the waves was deep enough that the anchor chain went airborne & when we hit bottom it slammed down & rang the hull like a goddamned gong. The following wave nearly ripped our Sea Sparrow launcher off the mount, turned that fucker 180 & put about 60 degrees of elevation on it, wound up pointed right up at the bridge windows. We must have shit on a whale or something to get Poseidon that angry. I miss that ship.
"Taking green water over the bow"... many times for me in the USCG too... on 95' Patrol Boat. Sometime it felt like the screws were the only thing left in the water at the top of the wave. Fond memory.
It wasn't until the advent of cheap video cameras that scientists actually 'proved' the existence of rogue waves.
Previous evidence, like water plants and other sea life stuck in the rigging of sailing ships, wasn't enough.
So when people say "Follow the Science!" and "The Science is Settled!," I have fun reminding the assholes that scientists and 'science' are often very wrong about things.
This happened to me on the ferry crossing the Hecate Strait on the way to Haida Gwaii thirty years ago. Slapped up on the window right next to me while trying to eat something. I opted to go back into the general passenger area, grab my pillow and lie flat on my stomach on the floor so I wouldn't start barfing all over everyone from seasickness. Worked well, but that wave made a believer out of me.
Spent a couple decades in the USCG. Brings back some memories, just another day in the office.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sir may I have another!!!
ReplyDeleteI love rough weather like that, the deck falls out from under your feet a microsecond or so before you go down to meet it and by then the deckis coming back up. Better than a roller-coaster ride.
ReplyDeleteJD
And the shake and vibration when the wave crashes!!!grayman
DeleteGrayman... oh yeah
DeleteJD
Imagine what it is like way down below deck, at the stern, when the prop lifts out of the water.
ReplyDeleteThat is when you appreciate the designers, the ship builders and your fellow crew. Not picked for any racial sexual reason.
We were 53,000 tons of haze grey & headed down to Sourh America in 2004 when we got hit with a pretty good storm. It was just after evening chow & I was doing maintenance schedules in my shop on the 3rd deck by the main spaces. Even 500’ back from the bow we felt the ship climb a good sized wave & then dip, followed by a massive crash. I was up the ladder & into the second deck p-way before I knew it, ran headfirst into our HT1 who had the same idea that I did. We got up to the fo’c’sle & did a once over then headed up to the bridge. Turns out the trough between the waves was deep enough that the anchor chain went airborne & when we hit bottom it slammed down & rang the hull like a goddamned gong. The following wave nearly ripped our Sea Sparrow launcher off the mount, turned that fucker 180 & put about 60 degrees of elevation on it, wound up pointed right up at the bridge windows.
ReplyDeleteWe must have shit on a whale or something to get Poseidon that angry.
I miss that ship.
"Taking green water over the bow"... many times for me in the USCG too... on 95' Patrol Boat. Sometime it felt like the screws were the only thing left in the water at the top of the wave. Fond memory.
ReplyDelete"Taking green water over the bow". Exactly the words I thought upon watching this.
DeleteI was an Army grunt but have several friends who were Navy and Coasties that have told me tales of days like this.
trough and swells, you haven't sailed until you've been on the north sea in winter.
ReplyDeleteWeather like this is what encouraged me to go for sub duty. At least we could submerge and miss the worst of it.
ReplyDeleteDBF. Crossed the Atlantic. Skipper kept us on the surface, damn. At least most of the boat is under water.
DeleteStuff like this is the very reason why I joined the infantry...and stayed there.
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't until the advent of cheap video cameras that scientists actually 'proved' the existence of rogue waves.
ReplyDeletePrevious evidence, like water plants and other sea life stuck in the rigging of sailing ships, wasn't enough.
So when people say "Follow the Science!" and "The Science is Settled!," I have fun reminding the assholes that scientists and 'science' are often very wrong about things.
I learned in school that science is never settled. What the hell do they…..never mind.
DeleteJFM
This happened to me on the ferry crossing the Hecate Strait on the way to Haida Gwaii thirty years ago. Slapped up on the window right next to me while trying to eat something. I opted to go back into the general passenger area, grab my pillow and lie flat on my stomach on the floor so I wouldn't start barfing all over everyone from seasickness. Worked well, but that wave made a believer out of me.
ReplyDeleteThis is HMNZS Otago in the Southern Ocean a few years back.
ReplyDelete