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Perfect Storm News & Information |
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Welcome to my Perfect Storm page.
This page is dedicated to George's new movie the
Perfect Storm. However, more importantly it is dedicated to all
of the families that have lost their loved ones at sea.
I don't know if most of you are familiar with the
story of the Andrea Gail so I will give you a little back ground
on it.
In October 1991 the Andrea Gail left Gloucester, MA on a late
season fishing trip. She had been out on a previous run
and didn't bring back the anticipated payload. So the crew
headed out and north to the Flemish Cap where the fish are plentiful.
On their way back, they ran into what local weatherman dubbed
"The Perfect Storm". The storm was a series of
different storm front/types that were all meeting on a collision
course for each other. The Andrea Gail and her crew were
in the worst possible position, right at the collision point.
The men of the Andrea Gail were never found. I have included some
technical date of the storm below to try to convey the severity
of the storm to you. No one knows what happened, or
rather what the circumstances surrounding the their last hours
or minutes were. However, Sebastian Junger did a fantastic
job of not taking any liberties with what might have happened
to the crew in his book. He interviewed many other local
fisherman that have been in similiar situtations. Since
Gloucester is primarily a fishing community he did not have to
look far to obtain the stories from these men. He also interviewed
people that were out in the storm. On to the men,
the storm and news about the movie.
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Captain William Tyne, Dale Murphy and Bugsy Moran on a previous
trip.
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Bobby Shatford and Christina Cotter |
Dale Murphy |
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Michael "Bugsy" Moran |
David Sullivan "Sully" |
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one has a picture of Alfred Pierre since he was a relative
newcomer to town. |
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Ethel Shatford, Bobby Shatford's Mother
Unfortuantely, for the Shatford family and,
from all accounts, the entire community of Gloucester, Ethel
passed away in October of 99. She will be missed dearly
by everyone that came into contact with her. |
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Maryanne Shatford, Bobby Shatford's sister.
She is the current owner of the Crow's Nest (seen here in
the background) |
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Captain Frank William
Tyne
Robert Shatford
Michael Moran
Dale Murphy
Alfred Pierre
David Sullivan
The entire crew will
be missed to those who loved them. The movie and this page
are dedicated to them. |
Below are
Storm Pictures and Information |
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"The Perfect Storm"
Conditions at the Time of the Image
The color-enhanced infrared image of 1200 UTC October
30, 1991 depicts a monster storm off the Eastern Seaboard,
which was described by the National Weather Service as the
"perfect storm." In this image, the storm was at
its peak intensity. The storm became subtropical thirty hours
later, just before the inner core of the storm developed into
a topical storm and later an unnamed hurricane.
History of the Storm
Late October and November are months with weather in
rapid transition in the eastern U.S. To the west, large fresh
cold air masses from Canada begin to envelope the Midwest
on a regular basis. To the east, the Atlantic Ocean is slower
to lose its stored summer heat than the continent, and hurricanes
sometimes form over the warm waters. The contrast between
two very dissimilar air masses often results in massive storms
just offshore of North America. These tempests, called "Nor'easters"
in the Atlantic states, have sunk many ocean vessels, and
this storm lived up to the reputation of being severe.
On October 28, 1991, a extratropical cyclone developed along
a cold front which had moved off the Northeast coast of the
U.S. By 1800 UTC, this low was located a few hundred miles
east of the coast of Nova Scotia. With strong upper air support,
the low rapidly deepened and became the dominant weather feature
in the Western Atlantic. Hurricane Grace, which had formed
on October 27 from a pre-existing subtropical storm and was
initially moving northwestward, made a hairpin turn to the
east in response to the strong, westerly deep-layer mean flow
on the southern flank of the developing extratropical low.
Grace was a large system and it was already generating large
swells ranging in size from about 15 feet offshore of North
Carolina to about 10 feet near the Florida coastline.
As the low pressure continued to deepen on October 29, Grace
became only a secondary contributor to the phenomenal sea
conditions which developed over the Western Atlantic during
the next few days. At 1800 UTC on the 29th, the vigorous cold
front from the extratropical low undercut and quickly destroyed
Grace's low level circulation east of Bermuda (Note the red
and yellow area east of Charleston, SC in Figure 1). The remnant
mid- and upper-level moisture from Grace became caught up
in the outer part of the extratropical storm center's circulation,
far from the storm's center. By the next day these remnants
had become indistinguishable. The center of the extratropical
low drifted southeastward and then southwestward, deepening
all the time. It reached peak intensity of 972 mb and maximum
sustained winds of 60 knots at 1200 UTC on October 30, when
it was located about 340 n mi south of Halifax, Nova Scotia
(See Event Discussion image above). After reaching peak intensity
on October 30, the low retrograded southwestward on October
31 (Note swirl off Delmarva Peninsula in Figure 2), and then
southward as the central pressure rose to about 998 mb by
0000 UTC on November 1. |
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65 Knot Winds/ 39 Foot Wave Heights
During the early phase of the storm's history, a strong high
pressure center extended from the Gulf of Mexico northeastward
along the Appalachians into Greenland. Strong winds were generated
from the tight pressure gradient between a strong high pressure
center in eastern Canada (1043 mb) and the surface low. Phenomenal
seas and strong winds and waves along the eastern U.S. coastline
occurred at this time. Several vessels passed close to the
extratropical storm center on October 30 and reported winds
of 50-60 knots. NOAA buoy 44011 located at 41.1 degrees N,
66.6 degrees W reported maximum sustained winds of 49 kt with
gusts to 65 kt and a significant wave height of 39 feet near
1500 UTC. Buoy 44008 located at 40.5 degrees N, 69.5 degrees
W reported maximum sustained winds of 53 kt with gusts to
63kt and a significant wave height of 31 feet near 0000 UTC
on October 31. Other unsubstantiated observations reported
winds and waves considerably higher.
North Carolina's coast was lashed with occasional winds of
35 to 45 mph for five consecutive days. In New England on
October 30-31, wind gusts of above hurricane force pounded
the Massachusetts coastline. Representative peak gusts included:
78 mph at Chatham NWS, 74 mph at Thatcher Island, 68 mph at
Marblehead, 64 mph at Blue Hill Observatory (all in Massachusetts)
and 63 mph at Newport, RI. Even more damaging were the heavy
surf and coastal flooding caused by the tremendous seas and
high tides caused by the long overwater fetch length and duration
of the storm. Waves 10 to 30 feet high were common from North
Carolina to Nova Scotia. High tides pushed to from three to
seven feet above normal. In New Jersey, the greatest tidal
departures of winter storms of record occurred during this
event, with tide heights exceeded only by the Great Atlantic
Hurricane of 1944. In Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia, the
highest water levels were comparable to those of the nor'easter
of March, 1962. A record high tide of 7.8 feet occurred at
Ocean City, MD on the 30th, which eclipsed the old record
of 7.5 feet recorded during the March 1962 storm. In Massachusetts,
25-foot waves reached the shoreline atop high tides already
4 feet above normal. At Boston, the tide reached 14.1 feet
above mean low water or about 1 foot less than the tides associated
with the "Blizzard of 1978." Elsewhere treacherous
swells, surf, and associated coastal flooding occurred along
portions of the Atlantic shoreline extending from Puerto Rico
and the Dominican Republic, to the Bahamas, along the U.S.
and Canada and in Bermuda.
Widespread Extensive Damage
A state
by state damage summary reveals the widespread and extensive
damage caused by the storm and accompanying seas. Beach erosion
and coastal flooding was severe and widespread, even causing
damage to lighthouses. Hundreds of homes and businesses were
either knocked from their foundations or simply disappeared.
Sea walls, boardwalks, bulkheads, and piers were reduced to
rubble over a wide area. Numerous small boats were sunk at
their berths and thousands of lobster traps were destroyed.
Flooding was extensive invading homes and closing roads and
airports. Former President Bush's home in Kennebunkport, ME
suffered damage as windows were blown out, water flooded the
building, and some structural damage also occurred. Even inland
areas suffered major damage. The Hudson, Hackensack, and Passaic
Rivers all experienced tidal flooding, and high winds brought
down utility poles, lines, tree limbs, and signs in several
states.
The most extensive damage occurred in New England where federal
disaster areas were declared for seven counties in Massachusetts,
five in Maine, and one in New Hampshire. Off Staten Island,
two men were drowned when their boat capsized. Other fatalities
occurred when a man fishing from a bridge was either blown
or swept off in New York and a fisherman was swept off the
rocks at Narrangansett, RI by heavy surf. Offshore, six lives
were lost when the Andrea Gail, a swordfishing boat, sank.
Total damage in the Halloween Storm, as it came to be known
because of its date, was in the hundreds of millions of dollars. |
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| Gloucester
Times
"Perfect Storm" crew takes over Harbor Loop
By BARBARA TAORMINA
Times staff
Hollywood has set up shop on Harbor Loop.
The cast and crew of the movie "The Perfect Storm" last night announced
their arrival in Gloucester at a press conference for about 150
television and newspaper reporters.
The movie, which is based on the best-selling book, traces the last
trip of the local swordfishing boat the Andrea Gail, which was lost
at sea during the infamous no-name storm of October 1991.
Producers, publicists, director Wolfgang Petersen and actors George
Clooney, Mark Wahlberg and Mary Elizabeth Mastran-tonio sat at a
table at the end of the Gloucester Marine Railways' dock and answered
questions about the film, their respective roles, and what it all
means for Gloucester.
On one side of the dock was the Andrea Gail's sister ship, the F/V
Hannah Boden. On the other side was the F/V Lady Grace, which has
been repainted as the Andrea Gail for the film.
In front of the table was the crowd of reporters who wanted to know
if Wahlberg, who will play Bobby Shatford, had ever caught any fish.
They also asked if Clooney, who has been cast as Capt. Billy Tyne,
had been researching the local culture in Gloucester's downtown
bars, and if Mastran-tonio, who will play Linda Greenlaw, captain
of the Hannah Boden, was concerned about getting wet while shooting.
"Mark didn't catch any fish but I learned how to drink," laughed
Clooney. "Does that count?"
All three actors appeared completely at home on the waterfront.
"Gloucester is just a beautiful city," said Clooney, who has been
enjoying the local hospitality. "The people have been just great."
And while Wahlberg also seems to have enjoyed the welcome, he reserved
special praise for the local food.
"We're supposed to have all these great restaurants in Los Angeles
and it just doesn't even some close to here," he said, smiling.
Although the cast took center stage last night, studio officials
also wanted residents to know that crews, actors and huge trucks
filled with every conceivable piece of staging and equipment will
be in town for the next three weeks.
Camera crews will be filming in and around Gloucester and at St.
Ann Church during the days ahead, but most of their work will be
done on Harbor Loop.
But even more important than schedules and stars were Warner Brothers
repeated assurances that they are making a movie that will be true
to Gloucester.
"I was a little wary of Hollywood," author Sebastian Junger told
the crowd. "But then I saw the screenplay and I was struck by how
they tried to stay as close to the book as possible."
Junger went on to say he was relieved by what he found in the script.
"I really love this town," he said. "I had nightmares of someone
making a bad movie and not being able to come back."
Still, both Junger and Petersen cautioned there will be some differences
between the book and the movie.
"We do whatever we can do exactly the same," said Petersen, who
stressed that the feeling in the book and the movie will be close.
"We go with these people one more time."
However, while Junger writes about what may have happened during
the Andrea Gail's final voyage, the movie will tell a story without
questions and doubts.
"Our movie is based on Sebastian's book but it does go some steps
beyond and tells what might have happened," Petersen said. "We go
with our imagination."
Mayor Bruce Tobey, who joined Gov. Paul Cellucci in speaking about
the benefits "The Perfect Storm" will bring to the local economy,
also expressed his belief that the film will follow Junger's book
and treat this episode of Gloucester fishing history with "real
sensitivity and enormous dignity."
"This was a powerful event in the history of this community and
through the book we relived that experience," Tobey said. "Now,
we will relive it here in Gloucester a second time."
And as proof of their commitment and respect for the fishing community's
experience, Warner Brothers presented The Perfect Storm Foundation
a check for $25,000.
Junger established the foundation to offer educational and cultural
opportunities to the children of fishing families.
But being true to the spirit of the story and the memory of the
crew of the Andrea Gail was not just the business of directors,
writers and public officials.
Mastrantonio said she feels a real sense of responsibility to the
people in the story. Wahlberg mentioned that he had gained a lot
of insight from time spent with the Shatford family.
And Clooney seemed equally determined to be part of a movie that
will stand as a tribute to the crew of the Andrea Gail.
"To get a chance to play these guys is an honor," he said. "I hope
we don't screw it up."
Boston Herald
GLOUCESTER - Get us a heart monitor - stat! Because departed "ER"
hunk George Clooney is up in Gloucester today to begin shooting
the film adaptation of Sebastian Junger's tale of terror on the
high seas, "The Perfect Storm."
Clooney, who plays Capt. Billy Tyne, the skipper of the ill-fated
swordfishing boat the Andrea Gail, and his co-stars, Mark Wahlberg
and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, got their sea legs last night meeting
the press in a pre-production lovefest on the Gloucester docks.
"I love this place, don't you?" said Clooney, who's been in Gloucester
for more than a week getting into character for his role as an old
salt.
And with his tan, scruffy whiskers and Miller High Life baseball
hat, George fit right in at The Crow's Nest, the waterfront bucket
of blood where "The Perfect Storm" fishermen hung out and where
Clooney's been spending much quality time - researching!
"I've learned how to drink," Clooney told the Track. Really? We
didn't think that was an area outside George's expertise, if you
believe those tabloids he hates so much!
"I've been here a little over a week, hanging around with the guys,"
he continued. "Once in a while I have them speak into a tape recorder.
They love that. Ha, ha."
Well! It's sooooo hard to get the local accent right, right?
Meanwhile Wahlberg, who's practically a native, coming as he does
from Dorchester, has been hanging out with the family of Bobby Shatford,
the fisherman he'll play in "Storm."
"It's hard," he said. "And I haven't even started shooting in front
of them yet."
Wahlberg and Clooney, who will be together on the big screen next
month in "Three Kings," have both been out on fishing boats to get
ready to tackle their seafaring parts.
"I'm comfortable on the boat," said Wahlberg, who caught one fish
during his excursion. "Wait a minute. I was told I wouldn't have
to get wet!" But director Wolfgang Petersen promised "The Perfect
Storm's" special effects will make a big splash. In fact, the re-creation
of the October 1991 storm that sank the Andrea Gail may make some
moviegoers seasick!
"I don't know if everyone can sit through this," he said.
Mastrantonio, who plays Linda Greenlaw, captain of the Hannah Boden,
admitted she knows absolutely nothing about fishing.
"But I'm told I look damn good in the wheelhouse."
You go girl!
The press conference wrapped with Warner Brothers donating $25,000
to Junger's The Perfect Storm Foundation which makes grants to children
of commercial fishermen. Which is kind of like the one that didn't
get away!
Copyright Gloucester Times and Boston Herald
New
Perfect Storm Trailer Screen Caps Click Here!
New
Trailer In Quick Time Format 8mb
New
International Trailer in Quick Time Format 13mb
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