Surviving a big electrical storm - 7 Jan 2023

Diablo's cruising adventures
Doug and Clare Hassell
Sun 8 Jan 2023 15:37

GPS coordinates 23:43:93N 58:43:16E

First day in the Indian Ocean, lovely sunny morning, calm seas, and a few clouds. More clouds start to build around mid day, but we still I lovely day in the big open dark expanse of the Indian Ocean.  

We tested out the Raimman water maker - made delicious water and used the inverter to run the freezer. We also checked the diesel tanks and filled them up - we had only used 50 litres despite motoring a fair mount - good news and no need to go to Muscat.

At 4 o’clock the clouds started to build and by 6 they were all around us and with some very  very dark and ominous one behind us. Then we saw a flash of lightning. so action stations we all rush down to get changed into our wet weather gear and quickly put the second reef in and stow the boat, turn off all instruments and put  some chain into the sea then we waited and with lots and lots of lightning flashing around us us.

We waited for the wind come - just before the wind came a few dolphins dolphins came to visit us we knew we would be ok Then there was brightest lighting and loudest clap of thunder any off us had heard  - the wind came  gusting up to 40+ knots constant 30 + knots  we were flyng  It was a severe storm with waves over 3 m and very agitated, sea state with lots of foam, and apart from the white of the foam, it was difficult to distinguish the sky from the sea. 

The boat speed was around 9 to 12 k knots, very exciting then torrential rain huge great drops the size of acorns hit us this all it lasted about an hour we all sat huddled together in the cockpit with life raft, grab bags etc. already to go after about an hour it started to abate and slowly the wind decreased and by 11 o’clock it was blowing 5 knots but there was still with a very agitated see state. 

It had been an exiting moment and had helped make progress towards Ras Al Hadd, a major  turning point as we head to the Red Sea.


Team Diablo



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