So my fiancée's parents decided to send her 15 yr old sister to a week-long summer sailing camp on Lake Huron this week. They thought it'd be a fun experience and it would get her out in the fresh air for a week. Her parents imagined a gentle breeze and some teambuilding. There were supposed to be three girls and five or six guys, but one of the girls bowed out so it was just Annie and one other girl. Fortunately they bonded and it's working out. Anyway...

The campers set sail from the northeast side of Michigan (Rogers City for those familiar with the area). Apparently, on the first or second day they got caught in a "squall." I don't know how you define a squall, but she said they had 60 mile per hour winds and 8-12 foot swells. The mast or one of the sails was damaged and they got blown clear across to Canada. Annie said that the campers had to run back and forth across the deck of the boat to keep it from capsizing (I think I heard them say it was a 42-foot sailboat). Also, apparently, the situation came on so quickly that they didn't even have time to run belowdeck to grab life jackets because so many loose items were being tossed about down there as the boat pitched in the waves. One of the counselors strapped herself into a sail and was making mast repairs, but was getting dunked each time the boat rolled from side to side. Plus, the engine became damaged when a rope fell into it and caught on fire. They had to be towed from the unknown port in Canada to Drummond Island for repairs, and should be underway today or tomorrow for the last two days of the camp. :blink:

Has anyone experienced a similar situation where the mighty whims of nature could have become fatal? Even if the boat didn't capsize and no one was washed overboard, I would have probably exploded from seasickness. p:

Crikey, thank goodness they made it through ok b:

WOW! Thats crazy! Im glad everyone came out of it ok. Nope, I've never had anything even remotely close to that happen to me.
I have been in a tornado though...Not IN the tornado...but you know what I mean. :P

Thankfully everyone is ok!! It does remind me of all those shipwrecks in the great lakes though. Weather can and will come up quickly on the water, that's for sure. But I can't recall anything like that except one time in a department store in Huber Heights, Ohio when a tornado lightly caused minor damage and my mother & I were herded into the dressing rooms along with other people but the tornado was thankfully not in the same part of town. Same thing with my wife last week who was at work about three miles north of Dayton Mall when a tornado struck about one mile south of the mall.

Although this isn't completely related, this has been all over the local news: Man dies after sea rescue tragedy :(

yike: I am so glad everyone was ok! WOW!

I guess the only thing I experienced was falling out in #5 rapids while white water rafting and having to be picked up by a kayaker.

Wow!!!!! Scary. I'm glad every one made it through with no injuries. Storms on the Great Lakes are wicked. yike: I wnet through a small storm up in the Thousand Islands while out in our boat. That was enough. :)

I was part of a two man crew that capsized a small catamaran back when I had time to go sailing about 15 years ago. The thing turned turtle on us while I was still untangling myself and rolled on top of me. After freezing from a bit of panic, I saw a triangle of light between all the ropes, sail etc and made my way out. Made it to clear water just before she completely turned upside down. Still makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

Then there was the time when one of our stay wires snapped and the mast fell down. That was fun...

Cheers beer:

Andy

HOLY SCARY ANDY!!! yike: That's enough to give anyone panic attacks for the rest of their lives.
Im glad you're still with us today buddy. w:

By the way, I did forget to mention that drowning is, and will always be, one of my BIGGEST fears...right behind Bees, that is. (*cringes*) :unsure:

I think drowning would have to be at the top of the list for me.

We went white water rafting recently and won't be doing it for a while! Not only did we end up so sore everywhere it wasn't funny but Jodi scared the heck out of me by falling out within the first half an hour, we didn't have enough paddle power to get the raft out of tight spots as we were two people short compared to the other boat and I got catapulted out of the raft on the last rapid when we went through a gap at a 45 degree angle.

At least I know what it's like to be sucked around by a vortex of sorts!

No interest in doing that again!

Cheers

Andy

Well you're just full of scares/scars :P aren't ya Andy! yike:
Again, glad you're okay. w:

LOl, scars yes. Scares, well, I'm usually too laid back to really get worked up! Like to think I plan ahead but often leave things to the last minute.

Wow, that's a big drop off into churning water filled with rocks...oh, there's the edge...think I'll hang on now... j: :lol:

Sigh!

Cheers beer:

Andy