(retired); Captain Jan Jannsen, ChevronTexaco Shipping Company LLC; Captain Giuseppe Mazzoleni, Chevron Transport Corporation Ltd.; Captain J. Michael Miller, ChevronTexaco Shipping Company LLC; Captain Mark D. Remijan, American Ship Management; Bill Watkins, vice commodore, California Yacht Club; and Tod and Linda White, S/V Seascape.

Eric Akiskalian and Dan Moore told me about the latest developments in tow-in surfing and close encounters with giant waves, while Kent A. Smith provided background material on surfing in general. My colleagues at Daniel, Mann, Johnson and Mendenhall and affiliated companies made port visits possible and provided background information; I particularly thank Clyde Garrison, Greg Hess, and Mike Gasparro, as well as Ms. Behjat Zanjani, president, IEM Corp.

Other technical specialists were generous with their help, including Professor George Pararas-Carayannis, former director of the International Tsunami Information Center (under the auspices of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization–Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission) and chief scientist for various missions sponsored by the United Nations Development Program, Dr. Henry Chen, president, Ocean Systems, Inc.; Alf Cook, Merchant Marine (retired); Hany Elwany, Coastal Environments, Inc.; Gordon Fulton, president, Concept Marine Associates, Inc.; Antonio Gioiello, chief harbor engineer, Port of Los Angeles; Professor Peter Joubert, University of Melbourne; Marion Lyman-Mersereau, Punahou School, Honolulu; John McLaurin, Pacific Merchant Shipping Association; Thomas Russell, general counsel, Port of Los Angeles; Rick Shema, weatherguy.com; Dr. Ray Schmitt, Ocean Studies Board, National Academy of Sciences; and Grant Stewart, American Ship Management.

Tom Cain, my master’s swimming program colleague and skilled sailor, provided many useful leads on rogue waves. He and Mitzi Wells read early drafts of the manuscript and gave much helpful advice regarding portions that would either overwhelm or bore the general reader. I am grateful to Ronald Holle, meteorologist, for reviewing weather-related material; Professor Chris Garrett, School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of Victoria, for reviewing materials concerning rogue wave theories and tides; and John Odea and his col-