55/015 Big-A got the Tsunami wave
from the e-mail recived in january '05

Big A and me got hit out of the blue on anchor in 5m water on sandy bottom, the first wave sucked all the water out and Big A was laying aground sideways to the sea I managed to close all the hatches seconds later we were hit from the first wave (I been told it was a 10m monster) I thought I am surfing in Hawai.
To make it short there where some 5-6 waves coming one by one and every time Big A hit the bottom very hard,after the 4th hit the mast broke 1 meter above the deck.
I got the engine started and managed somehow to get in to deeper water dragging the mast and rig with me.
Thanks to my Hearth Interface inverter/converter I managed to cut all my standing rigging with a flex (no chance with wire cutters or hack saw )
I left all the rig behind and went in even deeper water, did some diving on the hull and there was not one scratch ore any damage what so ever.
It’s a Swan 55
Since I am insured I do not worry to much, but I never (after owning here since 1975) did I come so close to loose here
Best regards,
Horst

© 2005 S&S Swan Association