Holidays…...

Things are picking up as far as Ocean activity goes. This passed Sunday I was working 200+ miles out at George's bank. In 15 foot NW swells as well as 50mph gusts and near white out blizzard conditions, moving a 95lb lobster trap around the deck of a 75ft hi-liner in 15ft seas was cross-training at its finest. Just something I keep on my mind to prevent me from going crazy while we're out on our week long trips. Tried to get the go pro out but the battery was drained(turned itself on in the night's 15-20ft beating). Sitting on watch was like being on a roller coaster. The walls of water would roll gently and as the boat slammed through the peak of each approaching wave would careen down the steep wind driven face of the backside of the wave. Twenty seven hours later we made enough headway out of the fetch and seas tapered down; about 6-12ft. At one point in the first leg of the journey home I woke up mid-air and had to shove myself back into my top bunk off of the ceiling. Great fun. We had waves on Thanksgiving again! here are some shots from various sources. Hopefully the wave machine stays on. Our tropical season was WAY too quiet. TOOOOOO quiet. Ten years ago there was a winter. In that winter there were 3 low pressure systems per week producing world class surf on all reaches of New England. Hopefully we're back in that pattern. Stay warm. Photo credit: T. Hinman