In May 1976, I was an engineering officer on USCGC Mellon, a 378' Coast Guard cutter. We drove thru a 940mb low to get to the sailing vessel SORCERY which was rolled by a 100' rogue at 0100. During our run to rescue SORCERY, we encountered 40-80' seas; had to switch from the Fairbanks Morris mains (which red-line at 750 rpm) to the Pratt and Whitney turbines and pitch the props back for 7 knots. That Big White One would come to a complete stop as it slammed into each huge wave sending a wakashaa-wakashaa down the entire length of the ship. 30-40 degree rolls where common. We cracked the superstructure and 11 main beams thru the deck in the bow, had 3 foot waves in the paint locker and tore off all the NBC washdown gear mounted throughout the exterior of the ship. Both 80# "bullnose" covers for the hawser pipe where blown off from their 10 dog mounts (one was found up on the signal bridge). The helicopter flight deck is 40' from the waterline and we would scurry out from the "balloon shelter" in a trough and look UP at crests 20-30'. We succesfully rescued all 11 owner and crew on SORCERY and towed the vessel into Kodiak. Absolutely one of the proudest, and scariest, times in my career. You can read a SORCERY crew account here:
http://www.cncphotoalbum.com/archive...y/sorcery2.htm 