Apparently the Coast Guard is on constant patrol in these two areas as the weather can change for the worse in a matter of hours, causing havoc with the sailing vessels. Commercial fishing, much to my surprise, is one of the most dangerous ways to earn a living. The show followed the story of a fishing crew as they went about their duties on the high seas off Maine. The crew consisted of a son, his father and his cousin. A huge storm came upon their boat during the nighttime hours.
Darkness makes it near impossible to find and rescue boats in distress.
As the huge waves smashed the hull of the boat, it began to turn over and capsize. The son watched helplessly as his father could not escape the ship, and was taken down under the sinking boat into the swelling sea. As the son waited for a rescue attempt, his cousin's body eventually became lifeless as they floated for hours in the 35-degree water. The son was eventually rescued, he himself near death from hypothermia. The fisherman's son in this story was interviewed later about how his life had changed since the incident.