Fatal Forecast: An Incredible True Tale of Disaster and Survival at Sea
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| Fatal Forecast: An Incredible True Tale of Disaster and Survival at Sea | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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A true story of catastrophe and survival at sea, Fatal Forecast is a spellbinding moment-by-moment account of seventy-two hours in the lives of eight young fishermen, some of whom would never set foot on dry land again. On the morning of November 21, 1980, two small Massachusetts lobster boats set out for Georges Bank, a bountiful but perilous fishing ground 130 miles off the coast of Cape Cod. The National Weather Service had forecast typical fall weather, and the young, rugged crewmen aboard the Sea Fever and the Fair Wind had made dozens of similar trips that season. They had no reason to expect that this trip would be any different. But the only weather buoy on Georges Bank was malfunctioning, and the National Weather Service had failed to share this fact with the fishermen who depended on its forecasts. As the two small boats headed out to sea, a colossal storm was brewing to the southeast, a furious maelstrom the National Weather Service did not accurately locate until the boats were already caught in the storm's grip, trapped in the treacherous waters of Georges Bank. Battered by sixty-foot waves and hurricane-force winds, the crews of the Fair Wind and the Sea Fever (captained by Peter Brown, whose father owned the Andrea Gail of Perfect Storm fame) struggled heroically to keep their vessels afloat. But the storm soon severely crippled one boat and overturned the other, trapping its crew inside. Meticulously researched and vividly told, Fatal Forecast is first and foremost a tale of miraculous survival. Most amazing is the story of Ernie Hazzard, who managed to crawl inside a tiny inflatable life raft and then spent more than fifty terrifying hours adrift on the stormy open sea. By turns tragic, thrilling, and inspiring, Ernie's story deserves a place among the greatest survival tales ever told. Equally riveting are the stories of the brave men and women from the Coast Guard and the crew of a nearby fishing boat who imperiled their own lives that day in order to save the lives of others. As gripping and harrowing as The Perfect Storm - but with a miracle ending - Fatal Forecast is an unforgettable true story about the collision of two spectacular forces: the brutality of nature and the human will to survive.
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| 09-09-08 | 1 | 1\1 |
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Reading this book brought back memories... of reading The Perfect Storm.
Obviously differing in the details, it's the same story, told in much the same way. (Review Data Last Updated: 2008-12-22 05:03:05 EST)
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| 01-20-08 | 5 | 1\1 |
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The Georges Bank lies about 120 miles east of Cape Cod. It is no place to be in a small boat; especially when the weather turns bad. Wind-driven waves building from the fetch of the Atlantic collide with the shallows beyond the continental shelf and can build to frightening proportions. And weather in the month of November on the Georges Bank can be extreme. Ordinarily, automated buoy data provide the National Weather Service with information that enables relatively accurate forcasting. But in November 1980 the National Data Center's Georges Bank Buoy, located 170 nM east of Hyannis, MA, was not functioning. It had not been for some time. With inadequate data, the National Weather Service issued a benign forecast. Based on this forecast, four deep sea lobster boats headed for the Georges Bank. They did not expect a killer storm packing 100 knot winds and 50-60 foot seas. One boat pitch-poled; it's lone survivor spent 50 frightening and misearable hours in a rubber raft before rescue. Another boat badly damaged by a rogue wave and leaking badly fought on and eventually limped back to port. Brave men and women of the U.S Coastguard, in spite of fatique and grave danger to themselves, doggedly attempted to rescue the crews of these vessels. Fatal Forecast is a story of survival, duty and triumph of the human spirit. The book is well-written and grabs you from the Prologue and does not let go. In fact, I read this book at a single sitting. I could not put it down. When I got to the end I read the Epilogue and even the author's notes. I did not want it to end.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2008-10-09 05:47:04 EST)
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| 12-29-07 | 5 | 30\55 |
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Probably my favorite catastrophe book yet! Very well written, making it so hard to put down once you start reading. I got this for Christmas and finished it within 3 days! Tougias not only rendered an awesome account of a real life dramatic fight for survival but also relayed vividly the other events that occurred in the lives of the men and families affected by the disaster at sea. A must read for those who enjoy seeing man triumph over the most trying adventure.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2008-01-21 05:25:57 EST)
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| 10-11-07 | 3 | 1\1 |
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Well written, gripping account of tragedy at sea. Worth reading if you like the "disaster book" genre, but not quite as good as The Perfect Storm.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2007-12-29 23:45:20 EST)
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| 10-02-07 | 5 | (NA) |
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If you liked "The Perfect Storm," you'll love "Fatal Forecast."
Michael J. Tougias' book is a gripping page-turner about fisherman fighting for their lives amid a severe storm off the New England coast. Tougias' taut storytelling puts the reader in the middle of the action. Like the best survival stories, you can feel yourself in the characters' place, trying to figure what to do next. I also like that Tougias includes related stories of fishing boat disasters (and near-disasters). I do have one small complaint. This book, like many of this type, includes a batch of pictures in the middle. I suppose it's cheaper to print the photos altogether like this rather than insert them at the appropriate place in the story. But in this case, if you look at the pictures (and what reader wouldn't?), some of them give away the ending of the book. That said, it's still a great story. Allow yourself plenty of time when you pick up "Fatal Forecast" -- it's hard to put down. (Review Data Last Updated: 2007-10-11 22:21:20 EST)
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| 09-21-07 | 5 | (NA) |
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Spellbinding! An amazing true story of a fishing trip that turned into a disaster. Excellent writing and the author weaves multi-tales of many people caught in this non-forcasted storm. Very readable, the book you can't put down!
(Review Data Last Updated: 2007-10-03 20:25:14 EST)
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| 09-17-07 | 5 | 1\1 |
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I was totally enthralled by this true story of 2 fishing boats from Massachusetts caught in a ferocious storm off the Georges Bank. A storm as severe as 'the Perfect Storm' exept no on knew this one was coming because of a malfunctioning weather buoy in the Bank. Michael Tougias writes a well-researched almost documentary style epic with no filler. The brave fishermen and heroes of the Coast Guard stand out. The will to survive and what it takes for one man to survive is amazing.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2007-09-22 05:19:02 EST)
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| 07-21-07 | 5 | 1\1 |
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Make some time for yourself because it's going to be very hard to put this down once you start reading! Amazing story and a very well written account. Grab a few tissues and enjoy.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2007-09-18 08:38:31 EST)
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| 07-20-07 | 5 | (NA) |
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Michael Tougias is exceptionally adept at putting together the histories and events surrounding men and their families that make their living off of the sea. As he did in "Ten Hours Until Dawn", his previous book, Mr. Tougias tells the story in "Fatal Forecast" of men caught in the most violent weather at sea. This fascinating true story of mariners dealing with the worst that nature can offer is a worthy example of the author's ample talent. I would urge anyone that has an interest in the sea to place this remarkable book at the top of their reading list.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2007-09-18 08:38:31 EST)
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| 07-16-07 | 5 | 2\2 |
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I was 17 when the storm occurred and remember it as if it were yesterday. The captain of the Fair Wind was my uncle's nephew and his fiancee is my cousin so he was a very prolific part of our family. This book helped bring closure to so many things for me.
There were also so many things that I never realized about the lobster fishing industry. The research in this book is nothing short of exceptional. I also know personally how professional the author was when he did his research. Congratulations on a job well done. (Review Data Last Updated: 2007-07-21 18:28:44 EST)
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| 07-06-07 | 5 | 3\3 |
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Fatal Forecast is one of the most riveting books I have ever read. The way Tougias describes the sea and the men that work it, brings you right into the boat with them. His description of the communities and the families of the men that experience the sea are timeless in nature, his story could be 100 years ago, 20 years ago or even tonight, who knows at any given time when an undetected storm batters those that earn their livelihood from the vast expanses of the sea.
This book is a must for anyone who enjoys adventure or the facination of the will to survive. Tougias does justice to those men as well as those who constantly patrol our coasts to help those in need. Anyone spending time around the ocean this summer must read this book!! (Review Data Last Updated: 2007-07-18 05:27:09 EST)
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