Additional Coverage:
- Reporting from the “Graveyard of the Pacific” (newsbreak.com)
Elite Coast Guard Unit Trains in Perilous Waters
The US Coast Guard’s elite surfmen, highly skilled rescuers, train in the treacherous waters known as the “Graveyard of the Pacific” near Washington and Oregon.
The area’s fast-moving Columbia River and massive waves from the Pacific combine to create dangerous surf that has claimed countless ships. Surfmen must be able to perform daring rescues in these conditions, with waves up to 20 feet high and winds reaching 50 knots.
Before boarding a lifeboat, the 60 Minutes team tested dry suits to prevent hypothermia in frigid waters. They also underwent a safety briefing, including instructions on how to survive a “rollover,” where a wave flips the boat upside down.
The boat’s design features buoyancy chambers that keep it afloat even if it flips. However, surfmen must hold their breath for up to 12 seconds during a rollover, clipped securely to the boat to prevent being thrown into the sea.
During their training, surfmen maneuvered the boat through crashing waves, including a technique called “squaring up” where they accelerate over the crest of a wave.
Despite the dangerous conditions, the surfmen find joy in their work. Chief Instructor Eric Ceallaigh describes the feeling of riding the waves as an incredible rollercoaster, leaving all worries behind.
Read More About This Story:
- Reporting from the “Graveyard of the Pacific” (newsbreak.com)