18 The Sea 
ening—as for example when observed from the fantail of a 
destroyer at full speed. A following or stern wave may be 
dangerous if it breaks aboard, “poops.” Sudden loss of way” 
will cause the wave to run aboard, swamping the vessel. 
Official U.S. Navy Photo 
The wake of a ship. This picture shows the bow waves very well, but 
does not show the stern waves adequately. The stern waves are 
largely obscured by the turbulence of the wake. 
It is interesting to remember as you stand at the stern rail 
and watch the snowy rushes of foam extending wide to the 
distant horizon that all the energy for those waves has been 
supplied at the expense of fuel consumed in your engines. 
As far as propelling the ship is concerned, the wake repre- 
sents lost energy. 
