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Conference unifix::sailing

Title:SAILING
Notice:Please read Note 2.* before participating in this conference
Moderator:UNIFIX::BERENS
Created:Wed Jul 01 1992
Last Modified:Mon Jun 02 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2299
Total number of notes:20724

2252.0. "White Squall, the movie" by NQOS02::nqsrv406.nqo.dec.com::rogersr (Rod Rogers) Wed Feb 07 1996 11:11

White Squall was a moving show. In all, an essence of sailing as it really is 
pervaded the plot and the dialog. On ocean shots were exhilerating. It 
brought us both back to our our cross Michigan passage with big seas, things 
moving around below decks, etc. 

When a youngster goes overboard, Olivia gets incensed, "why aren't they 
wearing harnesses. Its 1960 so probably they did not exist.

Hollywood strikes (as they never fail to do)

In the scenes just prior to the squall that sinks the Albatross, there is 
distant thunder and dark squall lines. Yet the brigantine is carrying all her 
sail. She still is when the rain begins. The captain pulls everyone out of 
the rigging when they go to reduce sail as he is afraid of lightning 
(reasonable fear in a ship were you have send people aloft to rduce sail.)

So along comes a heck of a microburst, and over she goes. On the beam ends. 
OK, I think.  Been there, done that. After a moment, she'll pop up and all 
will be well. I still don't understand how the ship's back was broken. Or why 
it sank.

And a white squall is never actually explained. I still don't know what it 
is. Aside from this unexplicable five minute (or was it ten) scene this is a 
moving tale, great cinematography of the Galapagos, and even a run-in with a 
cuban gunboat. four stars.....


T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
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2252.1White SquallDECC::CLAFLINDoug Claflin dtn 881-6355Wed Apr 10 1996 13:3015
As I understand it, a "white squall" is a micro burst on the ocean.  

It is called white because it can occur in clear air, sort of like a
vertical mistral.  There is a "white" haze kicked up by the resulting
surface winds, but no "black" angry cloud associated with it.

Denver is sort of infamous for such down drafts.  A pilot actually took a
photo of a microburst on approach.  There is this circular ring of dust
being raised on the ground.  Probably covers only a couple of acres.  The
picture indicates that it was a bright sunny day, though I suspect thunder
clouds in the area.  In other words your run of the mill summer day in
Colorado.

Doug 
dtn 381-6355