on our norwegian forum, we have a thread called “taken by the wind” directly traselated. it refers to a very famous old movie…
its plenty of great clips out there:
i in particular like frank wildcats clips from testing out his “SAFEHAVEN MARINE” pilot boats outside cork harbour ireland. his “boatmanship” reminds me of a skillful padler. and the skeg hard chine,kayaklook of his boats is facinating. the music is not bad either.One can also learn a great deal by studying these sea states…BF8-9-11 etc etc . ill put in some links.
last one for now.
one from stad, westcape of norway. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRiPlb8JTps&feature=related
I like the one with the Pilot boat …
– Last Updated: Sep-21-10 12:40 PM EST –
...... doing sea trials .
Went out one night and a 40 knot (steady) wind came up , the waves went to 20' , both wave and wind were running in the same direction , no rain . It was pitch dark , no moon . The 20' CC Whaler brought me in that night , but I wasn't at all sure during the following 2+ hrs. how it was going to end until the "very moment" I made safe harbor .
My first wish (and attempt) was to turn back around towards were I came from , that was the shortest and most desired retreat . Made only one attempt at that !! During that only attempt , as the boat crested the wave , it seemed to stand almost vertical momentarily , it felt like the wind might make the boat do a back flip .
After what seemed like the longest few seconds in history , the bow broke over forward thankfully , then steeply went down into the trough on the windward of the wave . We slid down the windward side and the bow slammed pretty hard into the bottom , water splashed over the bow rails . All I could think about at that moment was getting this boat turned around and running with the wind and waves again as quick as possible .
With my heart pounding out of my chest , finding it very hard to breath or even move my body , I cranked the wheel full over to the stop and applied full throttle just in time for the next wave that began to lift us again . We made the turn on the face (leeward) of the wave , and began the downhill slide again . After that I was able to take control over the fear , the adrenaline , and remained in command with full facaulties .
The following 2 hrs. was all feel . It's very , very dark down there in the trough trying to ride the backside (windward) of the waves (even darker than the pitch dark of the night) . It also required about 3/4 throttel to hold that posistion (full throttel sometimes) . My main focus was to keep the bow pitched up and not allow the wave behind to over take me . Every now and then one slipped under me and sometimes I over ran the wave in front of me .
I think that mostly happened because I was trying to run a slight angle to port side as much as possible , I had to get to safe harbor which was about 5 miles ahead on the left shore .
At anchore in safe harbor I feel asleep to the roaring wind . At dawn headed out again into steady 20-25 winds , seas at 4+' whitecapping . The bridge poles were soaked to a height of 15'-16' , maybe more .
When I think about that night , I can say it was probably best I could not see the whole magnitude of the water I was in , and feeling my way helped greatly with my focus on pitch and throttle . Just once did we put the spot light out onto the waves , it was too scarey to look at .
cool
– Last Updated: Sep-21-10 12:36 PM EST –
great story..here is one in a good gale...when the fetch isnt too long this kind of wind is possible to deal with from a kayakers perspective. the only problem is , one will not make much progress into the wind..if you have a safe landing place and can paddle strategically, so that you can ferryglide out of the wind.
on the open exposed coast these conditions is pretty tough. you would have to be one hell of a good kayaker and roller .http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnKMR2XivzA&feature=related
backflip?
– Last Updated: Sep-21-10 12:44 PM EST –
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quywDZyw4sc&feature=related
this one struggles a little bit...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_3-Re5KCj8&feature=related
those pilot boats are large and …
– Last Updated: Sep-21-10 1:43 PM EST –
...... must have incredible horse power .
What was amazing to me is that the 20' CC with a dry hull weight of 1850 lb. and gross weight of about 3100 lb. that night , was needing every bit of it's 150 hp. to stay in control and to keep up with the wind and waves . Not sure but I think my avg. forward speed must have been something like 5 mph. (or less) with 3/4 to full throttle (sometimes it felt like I was holding still with bow pitched up steeply , which also felt like I had the best control) .
Well , the story may sound cool (and since I survived it the memory is kinda cool I guess) , but at the time in reality , actually being there it was really more of a life or death situation that I was determined to win considering the options . The hour of night was around 1-4 am. for that ride , and once was enough , wouldn't care to repeat it .
The best part is the FSS briefer gave me CAVU all through the night w/winds increasing to 10-12 kts. by dawn ... it was a very freaky and unexpected Wx event that just happened out of nowhere . Even the next day they (FSS) couldn't explain it with much of any understanding .
hehe
have you read the story about the eskimo that were blow out to the ocean and lost in a heavy storm ?
in eastern arctic kayaks2 john heath…that book is a bible!
47ft MLB
Used to do this for a living. Nothing like being 10 ft above the water line and looking up at an oncoming wave.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_Ot9A-8Qm0&feature=related
nice…
this is weird. hurricane wind against sweell…a nasty situation for a kayaker,hehe.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWPPctxHzzA&feature=related
what is the hp. and gross weight for …
… that 47 ft. MLB boat ??
Its been 8 years…
Since I had to know the boat inside and out.
2x435hp diesels
40,000lbs
http://www.boatswainsmate.net/BM/47crew.pdf
sort of expected a bit greater hp …
– Last Updated: Sep-21-10 10:41 PM EST –
...... was thinking more like 600hp. x 2 . I suppose the reduction gears really give it that torque required in the heavy surf and high wave climb ability . Looking at the vid. it certainly seems to have ample reserve power when called upon .
Read the study guide you posted thoroughly . Understood most of it with a basic comprehension . Was amazed but not surprised to see the DBN lines 2", 2-1/4", 2-3/4" and a mechanical 3-1/4" . Sorta took a gulp when I read "body bags" .
Not certain which deck position is considered the weather deck ?? Don't really understand what all's involved in an "emergency window release system either" . Not sure what the (Weld marks for 3") are for on hull fore of frame 15 and aft of frame 1 ?? (trim indicator marks ??)
Anyway , thanks for the posted link , really interesting to read about and consider . No doubt in person as you were was quite something to experience !!
pics interceptor 55
lots of pictures from safehaven marine:http://www.safehavenmarine.com/PORTUGAL%20PILOT%20LAUNCHED.htm