Re: [Paddlewise] Re: "Sneaker Waves"

While not disputing the evidence, both scientific and anecdotal, of the
presence of unexpected large waves, I wonder how often "Rogue Waves" get the
blame for poor seamanship.

I can think of many instances where I have been told that a "Rogue Wave"
caused problems, when the waves were just waves, unpredictable as they are,
and the fault was in the judgement or skill of the paddler.

On one trip that I was on, RW's were blamed for two incidents, one of which
caused serious injuries. The first was poor timing while leaving a
dumping-surf beach when a double kayak was snapped in half, causing shoulder
and knee injuries. Later in the trip a double was capsized by a "Boomer", a
swell breaking over a reef. Others in the party had observed the risk and
stayed clear, but the last kayak, racing to catch up, cut straight through
and was monstered.

Almost certainly as a face-saving exercise the poor old RW was the reported
cause. 

I'm sure that this is common, as it is much easier to blame a freak of
nature than oneself!

Cheers

JKA


-- 
John Kirk-Anderson
Banks Peninsula
NEW ZEALAND
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