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How to Survive A Freak Wave-- And Avoid Whining
Wall Street Journal ^ | 22 Apr o5

Posted on 04/23/2005 10:42:04 AM PDT by rellimpank

BY BARBARA D. PHILLIPS Friday, April 22, 2005 12:01 a.m. EDT

NEW YORK--Rough seas buffeted the Norwegian Dawn cruise ship on its way from Miami to New York last Friday and Saturday, turning a pleasure cruise into a thrill ride. Then a "freak" seven-story wave hit the bow on decks nine and 10.

(Excerpt) Read more at opinionjournal.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: cruiseship; giantwave; norwegiandawn; survive
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To: rellimpank

I've sailed all my life, and I've been through some nasty experiences. Once I had electricity come jolting up my arm where I was holding a wet line, after a lightning bolt hit the water near us. Once we got knocked flat and would have capsized if the mainsail hadn't ripped to shreds and let us back up again. Once we found ourselves anchored near a lee shore at night when a storm suddenly reversed direction, and it was blowing too hard to shift the anchor or get under way. Once the tiller broke off in my hands half way across Penobscot bay.

Those are the breaks. If you don't like it, stay off the water and do something else for your pleasure. If you get killed, it happens to everyone sooner or later anyway.


21 posted on 04/23/2005 11:58:35 AM PDT by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: rellimpank

I don't know, I think a wave that high gives people the right to whine, they are expecting a cushy vacation. They are getting their money's worth out of the vacation by venting with whines! If she is strong enough to handle the experience great, but she should be more sympathetic to people who are far more frightened of unusual events on the sea.


22 posted on 04/23/2005 12:12:27 PM PDT by Mount Athos
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To: Cicero

"Sailing: standing in a cold shower, tearing up $20 bills."


23 posted on 04/23/2005 12:12:34 PM PDT by Travis McGee (----- www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com -----)
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To: All

24 posted on 04/23/2005 12:19:13 PM PDT by BushMeister ("We are a nation that has a government - not the other way around." --Ronald Reagan)
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To: rellimpank

I loved the scene in The Legend of 1900, where the main character, 1900, plays the piano with a sea sick musician hanging onto to the Grand Piano as it travels around and around the ball room during a huge storm. How to enjoy Mother Nature!


25 posted on 04/23/2005 12:22:18 PM PDT by yoe
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To: All

26 posted on 04/23/2005 12:23:34 PM PDT by BushMeister ("We are a nation that has a government - not the other way around." --Ronald Reagan)
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To: BushMeister


A guy I work with was on that boat.

The captain said on the intercom 'we're experiencing heavy seas, there's nothing to worry about'.

At the same time, he's calling the coast gaurd and all the staff is freaking out. People barfing in the halls, jacuzzi's washed over board, the window to the pilot room is cracked and won't survive another wave.

He loved it, said it was like a thrill ride. The boat was listing back and forth like 60 degrees. Anything not secured was flying all over. Oh and FREE DRINKS! Hehe.


27 posted on 04/23/2005 12:24:45 PM PDT by Malsua
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To: Travis McGee

Was it Mark Twain who said of a pleasure excursion: A lot like jail with the chance of being drowned thrown in...


28 posted on 04/23/2005 12:25:35 PM PDT by TalBlack
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To: rellimpank

ambulance chaser alert.


29 posted on 04/23/2005 12:27:22 PM PDT by the invisib1e hand (In Honor of Terri Schiavo. http://209.245.58.70/frosty65/ Let it load and have the sound on.)
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To: TalBlack

Anyone who considers sailing across an ocean should consider trying this first: Ride a roller coaster in a thunderstorm for a few hours, and then imagine doing it for a few days.


30 posted on 04/23/2005 12:33:13 PM PDT by Travis McGee (----- www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com -----)
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To: Travis McGee
From the article:

scheduled activities included casino gambling; a Champagne art auction; performances of "Bollywood," a "fantastic show full of special effects and incredible feats of human strength"; and an appearance by the Second City comedy troupe. The Freestyle Daily listed a golf seminar and couples massage.

I'd rather stand under a cold shower tearing up $20 bills.

31 posted on 04/23/2005 12:42:46 PM PDT by Age of Reason
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To: rellimpank
The Titanic was one disaster I have often thought that there were several ways to save everyone on board with the knowledge, equipment , time and manpower available. 2000 people times the 2 hours it took to sink equals 4000 man hours of labor. I often wondered why they didn't just carve out some flat spots and transfer people to the very iceberg that sank them. (and other burgs in the area.) Another thought would be to transfer as much weight from the bow to the stern raising the damaged areas out of the water. If the average weight of the people was 150lbs, the people alone would have shifted 150tons.
32 posted on 04/23/2005 12:57:43 PM PDT by Boiling point (If God had not meant for man to eat animals, he wouldn't have made them out of meat!)
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To: Travis McGee

Nobody makes you do it.


33 posted on 04/23/2005 1:12:07 PM PDT by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: Boiling point
Another thought would be to transfer as much weight from the bow to the stern raising the damaged areas out of the water.

How about chopping up the topside decking to make rafts?

34 posted on 04/23/2005 1:19:31 PM PDT by supercat ("Though her life has been sold for corrupt men's gold, she refuses to give up the ghost.")
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To: Boiling point

If I ever go on a cruise, I want you right next door to me- I think you would be more valuable than a life jacket :)


35 posted on 04/23/2005 1:24:03 PM PDT by Cate
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To: Age of Reason

I'd rather stand under a cold shower tearing up $20 bills.



A soulmate...I found my soulmate!!


36 posted on 04/23/2005 1:56:03 PM PDT by mlmr (The Culture of Death will get a lot more deadly before it's done.)
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To: Travis McGee
"Sailing: standing in a cold shower, tearing up $20 bills."

From my dad's dictionary: "Boat--A hole in the water, surrounded by wood, into which one pours money."

37 posted on 04/23/2005 2:12:30 PM PDT by supercat ("Though her life has been sold for corrupt men's gold, she refuses to give up the ghost.")
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To: BushMeister

I loved the picture......but howcome there are no people on deck?(:>)


38 posted on 04/23/2005 2:22:33 PM PDT by Wycowboy
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To: Cicero
I am always reminded of Martin Sheen's hotel Saigon scene in Apocolypse Now.

"When I'm out on the ocean, all I can think about is getting to shore. But after a few months on shore, all I can think about is sailing again."

39 posted on 04/23/2005 2:36:04 PM PDT by Travis McGee (----- www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com -----)
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To: supercat

In my case, steel.


40 posted on 04/23/2005 2:36:39 PM PDT by Travis McGee (----- www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com -----)
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