Best Boat Buzz

An “unusually large” wave capsized a small fishing boat last week in Hampton, NH. The wave was described as a rogue wave in a local newspaper. The boat was only about 100 yards offshore. The height of the wave has not been reported. One man drowned and another was saved by other boaters in the area-very sad.

Rogue waves (also known as freak waves, monster waves, killer waves, and extreme waves) are relatively large and spontaneous ocean surface waves that are a threat even to large ships and ocean liners. These waves are not necessarily the biggest waves found at sea; they are, rather, surprisingly large waves for a given sea state. A true rogue wave arises seemingly out of nowhere and is significantly higher than the other waves occurring in the area at the time.

These waves were once considered to be in the minds of sailors who had too much time on their hands. Satellite photos and radar imagery have documented the existence of numerous rogue waves, and it turns out that they are far more common than previously thought.

It is common for mid-ocean storm waves to reach 7 meters (23 ft) in height, and in extreme conditions such waves can reach heights of 49 ft. Many years of research have confirmed that waves of up to 35 meters (110 ft) in height are much more common than mathematical probability theory predicted.

The phenomenon of rogue waves is still a matter of active research. One theory is that when strong currents meet winds and waves moving in the opposite direction it can cause a rogue wave. According to this hypothesis, wind and the currents focus and concentrate on sets of waves, shortening the distance between them and sending individual peaks higher.

Encounters with rogue waves have been rare but memorable. One resource describes the following encounters: “In 1933 in the North Pacific, the US Navy transport USS Ramapo triangulated a rogue wave at thirty-four meters in height. In 1942, the RMS Queen Mary was transporting 15,000 US troops to Europe when it was hit by a twenty-three meter wave and nearly capsized. The giant vessel listed by about 52 degrees due to the impact, after which it slowly righted itself.

In 1978, the 37,000-ton MS Munchen radioed a garbled distress call from the mid-Atlantic. When rescuers arrived, they found only “a few bits of wreckage,” including an unlaunched lifeboat with one of its attachment pins “twisted as though hit by an extreme force.” It is now believed that a rogue wave hit the ship, causing it to capsize and sink. No survivors were ever found.

In 1996, the Queen Elizabeth 2 encountered a rogue wave of twenty-nine meters, which the Captain said “came out of the darkness” and “looked like the White Cliffs of Dover.” London newspapers said that the captain situated the vessel to “surf” the wave to avoid being sunk.”

Boating on the ocean poses unexpected dangers that boaters must always be equipped and prepared to face. I for one, hope I never encounter a rogue or an “unusually large” wave. Stay safe all and keep checking back for the best boat buzz.