Dr. Weeraratne in typhoon

This marine cruise was unfortunately schedule in the NW Pacific Ocean during typhoon season this year. We hit a bad storm after the first 6 days of transit which produced 50-55 knot sustained winds with wind gusts of 65 knots. This is classified as a sea state 10 on the Beaufort scale which ranges from 1-11 (strong gale force). Although Dr. Dayanthie Weeraratne looks happy here, she was not feeling so well later that day! The seas shown here in the early morning only had ~30 knots winds which worsened by evening. Instrument recoveries are not allowed for safety reasons in such weather. But conditions improved after several days.