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Article: An ill wind, and plenty of it. (Consequences).
- Article from:
- National Fisherman
- Article date:
- October 1, 2002
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 Diversified Publications. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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The forecast was bad, even for January, but the captain said later that he'd fished in such weather before. The National Weather Service was calling for 30 to 40 knots of wind and seas of 10 to 15 feet.
The 75-foot, raised-wheelhouse dragger left Montauk, N.Y., about 3:30 p.m. and steamed south for eight hours before setting out. By 3 a.m. the weather was living up to the forecast, and the captain decided to haul back and lay to. He shut down the main engine and let the boat drift, a not-uncommon practice in heavy weather off New England. The crew made sure the freeing ports were open so the deck would drain efficiently and dogged the clamps on the deck plates ...