Defiant Japanese boat captain rode out tsunami (plus video)

[Bonobo]

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/04/03/japan.tsunami.captain/?hpt=C1

Oshima, Japan (CNN) -- Susumu Sugawara looks bemused and a little embarrassed at all the attention he's getting.
The 64 year old has become a local hero on the Japanese island of Oshima. Smashed boats adorn the coastline of this once-idyllic tourist spot, but Sugawara's pride and joy, "Sunflower" is intact and working overtime transporting people and aid to and from the island. It can hold around 20 people at a time.
When the tsunami came, everyone ran to the hills. But Sugawara ran to his boat and steered it into deeper waters. "I knew if I didn't save my boat, my island would be isolated and in trouble," he tells CNN.

"Here was my boat and here was the wave," he says, holding one hand low and the other stretched high above his head. "I climbed the wave like a mountain. When I thought I had got to the top, the wave got even bigger."

Trying to get back to Oshima, he had to navigate carefully past wrecked houses, boats and other debris that floated past him. The island of Oshima was in complete darkness; the only way he could find his way was with the guide of raging fires at Kesunnuma -- 5 kilometers (3 miles) away.

For twenty days, he has been making hourly trips to the mainland. For the first two weeks at least he provided almost the only connection with it. Without Sugawara and the Sunflower, the island would have been completely cut off.

[Octafish]

1. The waves were steep to crest, yet gradually sloped down the other side.

Thank you for a great story about a good sea captain. He did what he knew he had to do, even if it meant he'd lose his life in the attempt. That is heroic.

PS: How are you doing, Bonobo?

[hobbit709]

2. From Capt. Lindeman's log in 1883

http://www.awesomestories.com/assets/krakatoa-pt-4

[Bonobo]

5. Nice catch! nt

[malaise]

9. I watch every documentary on Krakatoa

Great link

[marions ghost]

3. amazing story

:wow:

[Stinky The Clown]

4. May Captain Sugawara spend the rest of his days with fair winds and following seas

"I talk to my boat . . . ."

Yeah. I can understand that.

[KittyWampus]

6. Great story. I live on an island where there are a lot of old fishermen.

[Bonobo]

7. I'm from Eastern LI as well.

Born and raised in West Islip. Sounds like you might be out further east towards Montauk?

[KittyWampus]

8. Exactly. I go to a yarn store in E. Islip called Grannys. She's been there for decades.

Islip, Bayshore and those towns still have a down town.

[FLPanhandle]

10. Here's a video of a Coast Guard Vessel encountering the tsunami

Further out to sea than the fisherman so not as steep

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpTajjOpyHk

[ljm2002]

11. What an amazing story!

Thanks for the link, well worth watching. Epic tale.