March 26, 2024

On MEDIUM: "Woman Overboard WIth Watching Ships & Surfers on YouTube: Who gets the biggest wave?"

 

WHEN THINGS GET FISHY

Woman Overboard With Watching Ships & Surfers on YouTube

Who gets the biggest wave?

Photo by Sebastian Bill on Unsplash

You know those people who can spend hours on YouTube on any subject? I am one of them. I am obsessed with big waves. The more massive, the better.

I love watching ships on stormy seas (especially with a view from the helm of a Russian cargo ship where you can look out and see the 50-foot wave coming). Then you’ll find me deep into the rabbit hole with anything pertaining to boats in general: day sailors, cargo ships, luxury liners, tugboats, and vessels of any sort in foul weather. There is something thrilling about watching ill-tempered waves crash over the bow. The higher and scarier the wave, the better.

                                                     Photo by Torsten Dederichs on Unsplash

There is equal mesmerization with surfers riding big waves. What would it feel like to be in the barrel of one of Oahu’s North Shore Backyards, a brutal reef-filled surf where the waves are fast and furious? Or in the epic mecca of Nazaré, Portugal, where waves can reach 80 feet and over and intimidate even professional surfers? Watch these surfers as they dare the waves of Nazaré. (For full impact, hit all of the underlined links and go to fullscreen format.)

                                                                    Photo by dailystoke.com

I can watch these YouTube clips, and others like them, for literally hours:

Mavericks, CA

Jaws, Maui

Teahupo’o, Tahiti

Mullaghore Head, Ireland

Punta de Lobos, Chile

When I watch them, I feel exhilarated, like an electrifying fixation. I feel a heightened rush and madness all while sitting at my desk. That’s when the rabbit hole thing takes over, which, I’ll admit, is a problem in our household.

Husband: “Hon, what did you do today?”

Me: “I watched surfing clips on YouTube.”

Husband: “The entire day?”

Color image of a cool surfer dude in the heart of a barrel wave, which is a type of wave that forms a hollow tube, or tunnel, as it breaks.
Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash

This zealousness for surfers and surfing is shared with the venerable Diana Vreeland. (Check out my blog, “Diana Vreeland: A Wannabe Surfer”). In it, she states:

    "I'm really only envious of one thing, and that is a surfer. I        think it's the most beautiful thing. See, I'm mad about water. I think that water is God's tranquilizer.

    To be in it, to drink it, to look at it, and to be a surfer -- oh, between the sky and the water -- that would be to me, the most wonderful thing."

Before you go, click here to experience the rush that D.V. and I share when we watch surfers.

Whether you're on a boat steering into a wave, or a surfer riding on top of a wave, if you put it on YouTube, think of me; armchair traveling from my home computer, far from any splash, feverishly sharing the titillation and excitement from afar.



March 18, 2024

Part II: Crazy Surfing on Truly Massive Waves


I'm completely (and equally) mesmerized by surfers riding big waves. What would it feel like to be in the barrel of one of Oahu's North Shore Backyards, a brutal yet rewarding reef-filled surf where the waves are fast and furious? Or in the epic mecca of Nazaré, Portugal, where waves can reach 80 feet and over and intimidate even professional big-wave surfers. (Check out the video ... scary/exhilarating/hail the dudes that dare the waves of Nazaré.)

I can watch these clips for hours:

Mavericks, CA

Jaws, Maui

Teahupo'o, Tahiti

Shipstern Bluff, Tasmania

Punta de Lobos, Chile

The rabbit hole thing takes over. It can be a household problem.

Husband: "Hon, what did you do today?" 

Me: "I watched surfing clips on YouTube."

Husband:  "The entire day?"


The fixation may have been ignited with "Subway Surfer," a writing project I did for a music video. To kick it off, I rode every subway line in Manhattan from start to finish. 

How to "Subway Surf?" 

Walk to the first car, stand at the window, and don't grab onto anything. Your arms need to help you keep balance as you sway to the subway's twists and turns.

I share my obsession/passion for surfers and surfing with the venerable Diana Vreeland. (Check out "Diana Vreeland: A Wannabe Surfer"). She said,

"I'm really only envious of one thing, and that is a surfer. I think it's the most beautiful thing. See I'm mad about water. I think water is God's tranquilizer. To be in it, to drink it, to look at it, and to be a surfer -- oh, between the sky and the water -- would be to me, the most wonderful thing."
                                                                                         ~ Diana Vreeland



~ ~ ~ To get the full drift, be sure to read "Part I: Crazy Ships on Wild Waves" ~ ~ ~
















March 13, 2024

Part I: Crazy Ships on Wild Waves

You know those people who can spend hours on Instagram Reels or YouTube on any subject? I am one of them. 

I can go deep into the rabbit hole with anything pertaining to boats, cargo ships, luxury liners, and vessels of any sort in foul weather. 
I love watching ill-tempered waves crash over the bow.
The higher and scarier the wave, the better. 





Can't you just feel the thrill?


 

Stay tuned for Part II: Obsession with

~ ~ ~  SURFING ~ ~ ~











March 7, 2024

Cole Brauer, 1st American woman to sail, single-handed, non-stop, around the world


I was mesmerized last night and stayed up until 3:30am, glued to Instagram. Cole Brauer, 29, was tacking her way to the finish line of the Global Solo Challenge, a 26,000-mile race around the world. She's been three months alone at sea, being challenged by Mother Nature with wind blowing more than 58 knots and mighty seas reaching over 20 feet. 


Cole's boat is called "First Light." Appropriately enough, she slowed her course so that she would arrive at first light of the day.

This inspiring woman, who shared nearly every step of the voyage on ColeBrauerOceanRacing, proves that WOMEN CAN DO IT!! She's the first American woman to sail, single-handed, non-stop, around the world. Cole is our "Amelia Earhart of the Seas."

"They" said, "You're just a girl," "You can't do this," and she said, "Hold my beer!" Whattabadass!!





March 5, 2024

Upcoming book talks in April at BEDFORD PLAYHOUSE (4/9) & POUND RIDGE LIBRARY (4/20)

 April will be a busy month. Mark your calendars for . . .


Tuesday, April 9 at 7pm


A N D



Saturday, April 20 at 3pm



More info to come!!!





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