Force 12 Hurricane in Bay of Biscay

We were on the Independence of the Seas April and we're caught in a Force 12.The captain put up a map on the tv screens to show us we were in the 'Red' Force 12 section.This doesn't do it justice tho look at one of the waves at the end.It was like being at the Gates of Hell, I wobbled down the stairs and there was this tremendous 'CRACK' and it felt like the ship had torn in two.Duty free was flying round the shop,some dear old lady threw up her (saved for months) cruise breakfast in front of my aunt and was so embarrassed.No-one could go on deck and the wind howled like nothing I've heard before.Even worse was the fact that when I went into Johnny Rockets I put on 'Night Fever' to watch the waiters do a dance in the storm but they refused

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[DIKKEPIJP]

I remember this day! I went windsurfing in Holland, not on the nothsea but a lake. Those waves where the same hight as a normal day on sea. Can watch this the hole day, it’s so satisfying. Especially when you’re on the water also. Sweet vid!!

[alikat]

I was also on this cruise at this time. It was absolutely horrendous. The waves were going above our porthole. I see a few comments on here about how it doesn't look as bad as it sounds but those people didn't have to experience it. I do remember being told at the time that it was the worst they'd seen for over 40 years so sod these know-it-alls saying you're wrong.

I found this video because I was telling a friend of mine about that day and came to see if I could find a video.. so thanks for uploading!

[CarlJohnFreeman]

Brilliant footage and some very helpful comments. I had a very rough crossing of the Bay of Biscay one February around 24 years ago. We were told it was Gale Force 8 to Severe Gale Force 9 (occasionally 10) and from memory it looked like this. It was my first and only experience of sea sickness. And the reason for looking up videos of this I am taking another ferry crossing to Bilbao next week. I am hoping for a calmer crossing. Statistically, being July, I have a reasonable chance!

[TainoHans]

Thank you very much Paul. Indeed, with bad weather the vessel rocks and rolls. The vessels where I work on don't have stabilizors and are smaller than the passengers ships, so every now and than we roll > 50 ° every 8 seconds to each side. Waves of > 12 meters. But not the height of the wave is important, but the shape of the wave. Long waves can be high, no problem. Short, high waves are dangerous for our type of vessels. Eating, sleeping nothing is possible. Just ride out the storm and have faith in the techniques and strength of the vessel. But that doesn't happen every day or every week. Just exceptions. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed your trip and will decide to do it

[sailorboyrawsailor]

lol if this is hurricane I am donald duck. This is maybe gale force 8-9

[chriscolton]

Been in a Gale Force 9 storm at sea before, at night, on the Irish Sea.. Absolutely horrendous, still traumatises me now, years later, when I think about it. Honestly thought we might not make it, and so did a few very experienced crew members...

[paulpallavre]

That was my mum haha!! She was in bed for 2 days, the water got so high it was swirling around the windows like a washing machine

[paulpallavre]

The captain put up a map on the tv screens to show us we were in the 'Red' Force 12 section

[tomosa]

I worked as a deckhand on a coaster in the 80s crossed the bay in a similar sea state. Took 4 days and continuous huge waves. Very alone! Scarry as hell.

[Yan-T]

force 8 gusting force 9, force 12 is just spray, sea actually blows its self down, violent storm 11 is a different beast altogether. still nice video tho! thanks

[RC-Heli]

The Bay of Biscay seems a lot like the Drakes Passage. Huge swells!

[petermaddox]

And that is why I joined the submarine force lol

[paulpallavre]

This was April 2012, we must have been on the same one, it was terrible wasn't it, this video doesn't do it justice

[paulpallavre]

The man is me ha! Yes i do sound like that in storms but the one who says i cant look at it is my mum, most of the guests were in the cabins being sick, i went to the duty free shop and the contents had rolled to the glass doors and as i went down the stairs there was an almighty CRACK! and i thought the ship had split in half, i nearly went into Kate Winslet mode and started running around screaming ' is anyone called Jack! '

[MrYankee]

Not Force 12 lad. I'd say more so Force 10. In any case however, nice footage.

[Oakleaf]

Two words which may help ...''Transderm Scōp'' Scopolamine patch works very well for some people.

[PRO-ecgo]

Nowadays when no cruise ships sailing around the globe anymore (due to f..ing COVID) still we can meet a heavy weather from time to time, especially in North Atlantic and especially in Bay of Biscay. You can see in my video if interested.

[TainoHans]

If you think this is force 12, you have never seen force 12, especially in the Biscay. The speed of the vessel (even a passenger vessel) is to high fo force 12. This is 8, max. 9.

[rudypuister]

With a real force 12 you wouldn't be able to see more then 100 meters due the sea spray. In me experience as a sailor in a force eleven storm in the Atlantic this video represents more a for 8 to 9 with maybe some occasional gusts off 10, 11. You Captain most probably showed a forecast map of possible winds.
Sailing a cruise line with the speed as shown in the movie with force 12 would be in appropiate and dangerous sailing althogether.... with severe risk of inyuries and damage to the vessel.
Most ships in a force 12 hurricane are just keeping enough speed to keep the vessel under control in a direction that avoids most of the heavy effects of the high seas.
This by far is not the case here...

[mattucar]

Try the bay of Lyon cruise started 25th June 2012