Gales of November

Brent, so did my nephew.

I grew up on Lake Huron. The biggest waves we saw at the shore were about like those at 2:20 in the video. It's amazing to watch the power of mother nature.
 
Brent, so did my nephew.

I grew up on Lake Huron. The biggest waves we saw at the shore were about like those at 2:20 in the video. It's amazing to watch the power of mother nature.
It's a real popular spot for swimming and jumping off. I've never bothered to go do it but I've watched the kids from the boat, looks like fun.

That rock point is about 20' high. Knowing that and looking out past at some of the waves coming in it's easy to get an idea of their size.

At 2:00 in the video you see a guy in a blue jacket out there. He got washed off by one of the waves. As the water was taking him out he was able to snag a rock with one hand and then hang on. His girlfriend got to him right away and helped pull him out before the lake got him. The guy was lucky, those waves would have pounded him to death on the rocks.
 
He is one lucky man. Thanks for posting this, as others have stated the power of Mother Nature is incredible!
 
I saw that guy in the blue jacket and I thought "What an idiot".
Just the year before this two kids drowned near there. There's big rocks maybe 200 yards off the shore that normally you can wade out to. When waves come in from the right direction they create a current that crosses between rocks and shore and that's when they have problems. Two girls 22yo, tried to get to the rocks, they got in trouble, a 24yo guy that didn't even know them went into help. He and one girl drowned. Two other good Samaritans got some life jackets and went in after the other girl, they made it.

I know what you mean GFC, I've seen some things and think the same, what an idiot, but sometimes if I think a little longer on it I remember the 'piss and vinegar' of youth. ;)
 
Here is a picture of the walking pier at the mouth of the harbor in Oakville Ontario on Lake Ontario in a storm. If you look at the lake in the background you will see the "washtub" waves that you get on the Great Lakes. Short period, steep and confused directions. The Great Lakes can be very dangerous bodies of water.

1085.jpg
 
Those washtub waves as Creekwood called them were what I used to love sailing in. The winds almost always blew toward the shore so it was easy to sail up and down the shore, staying within 1/4 to 1/2 mile from the beach.

I can picture it now. Sail closely hauled, the boat heeling over, my butt cheeks over the side of the hull to keep the boat balance, the bow slicing nicely through the waves. What a life.

Occasionally things changed and that's what brought to mind this thread:
http://clubsearay.com/index.php?threads/remember-that-time-you-almost-drowned.90985/
 

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