Travel on YT

This article was taken from the St. Petersburg Times 3/2/09
People joke about the Gulf of Mexico. They call it a pond, say it has no waves. But they have never been at sea and felt the full force of a late-season winter cold front.

I’ve seen the gulf get nasty — 10-foot seas and 40 mph winds. I’ve knelt on the deck and prayed, cursing my ignorance and damning the decisions of others. And I’ve learned from my mistakes.

People die in the cold water of the Gulf of Mexico — quickly, without warning, sometimes within sight of land.

Four friends decide to go fishing in 21-foot boat. Hoping to catch amberjack, they travel 50 miles from shore to get a good spot. Smart fishermen hit the farthest spot first, then work their way back.

The weather report called for calm seas in the morning. But in the afternoon, a cold front would sweep down from the north.

So they take off across 2-foot seas and head toward their fishing spot.

Perhaps they were anchored up fishing, or maybe running home when they realized that the front had arrived earlier than predicted. The 2-foot seas built quickly to 4 feet, then 6 feet. All it takes is one 8-foot wave to swamp a boat.

• PT1/3g2/ Invasion Earth&Beyond 2 27 09/sci-news,callin,opinion
• The Girls Basketball Team at Columbus East High School in Columbus, Indiana U.S.A. (2002) 6