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In December 2001, during the third leg of the Volvo Ocean race from
Sidney to Hobart a waterspout through the fleet.  I believe there is a
video out there somewhere.
http://www.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/sailing/12/28/ppl.twister/index.html
http://www.latitude38.com/LectronicLat/2001/Dec2001/Dec27/Dec27.html
http://www.sailingsource.com/scuttlebutt/973.html

* Team News Corp was hit by a waterspout overnight that left broken
battens and blocks in its wake. The tornado swept over the leading
yachts  in the Sydney - Hobart Race leaving Kiwi offshore racing
veteran and Team  News Corp navigator, Ross Field, reeling. "It was an
unbelievable sight and  nothing like anyone has experienced before," he
said. "A waterspout -  tornado - came through illbruck, Assa Abloy and
ourselves giving us wind up  to 58 knots. It was really scary to see
this long vertical round spinning  cloud charge towards us with the
bottom of it sucking up water. There was  nowhere to go. We dropped our
main and left up a small headsail and in the  meantime broke battens
and blocks."

Team News Corp meterologist, Nick White (NZ) commented on the event. "A
  waterspout is a tornado that forms over the water. It occurs under a
severe  thunderstorm and in the presence of cumulo-nimbus clouds. There
is a  potential for wind speeds of hundreds of kilometres an hour at
the centre  of the spout. The tornado was unexpected and violent. Hot
winds came off  the Australian mainland and mixed with the sea-breeze
to cause this  phenomenon." Nick White remains on-shore during the
third leg of the Volvo  Ocean Race, as short-course tactician, Peter
Isler (USA) steps into the nav  station along side Ross Field. -
www.TeamNewsCorp.com

frank

Frank Swift
====================================================
~ _) ~ The world is not interested in how many storms you survived,
                        only that the ship arrived. ~ _) ~
====================================================

   

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