Having Brass Ones is standing on the 05 level (5 levels ABove the main deck which is 30 feet above the water line) and looking UP at the wave bearing on the starboard side. It makes no difference if the skipper turns toward it, that is a nervous time. Especially when you are still sailing into the storm.
Thanks for bringing back not so pleasant memories.
Back in the late '70's we had a Gator Navy cruise coming back from the Med to North Carolina. Freak cold front hit with winds measured at 90 mph at Cherry Point. The LPH was taking green water over the bow - Flight Deck is 60 feet above water level. They said the CH-46s tied down forward spent a total of about half an hour under water from the waves over the deck.
Several of the rotor blades, which were folded and secured, were broken at the rotor hubs from the force of the waves.
That is truly “pucker time!”
Thank god I never sailed on the great lakes. Or any water for that matter.
Out of 72 in our class of marine diesel engineering, not one went out on the boats/ships. Soon after we all graduated, the Fitz went down.