Position Update N33:57.87 W29:28.25
PASSEPARTOUT
Christopher & Nirit Slaney
Fri 11 May 2012 21:40
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"They say the darkest hour is right before the
dawn." Bob Dylan
On Thursday night we finished the evening meal and a
game of cards just before the first watch was due to begin at 21:00. At 21:15
the sky darkened and the wind speed doubled. We were soon plowing into big
waves. Then lightning ripped across the sky again and again as the wind
ratcheted up another notch, this went on and on six hours. It looked too risky
to go forward on deck and start changing sails, we just had to sit
through it and hope for the best. Why does this usually happen on the
darkest nights? Over thousands of miles sailing in all sorts of climates I can
recall only the one time being trapped under a thunderstorm in broad daylight;
off the Turkish coast between Kemer and Myre. The darkness makes everything so
much worse especially if, like me, you have a vivid imagination.
By daybreak it was all over apart from a few rain
squalls. Down below on Passepartout it looked as if a bomb had gone off. During
the storm, those off watch had tried every which way to get comfortable for a
few hours sleep. Cushions, pillows, blankets, wet clothes and shoes were strewn
about everywhere. Shmulik and I checked for damage on deck and in the
rigging but all was okay and by six a.m. we were sailing again.
At mid morning the breeze had turned fickle and we
had the engine on. Our plan for using this direct route from the eastern
Caribbean always took into account the fact that we would have enough fuel for
1,000 miles on engine, should we hit the calm of the 'Azores
high'. Well, it looks like today is when that part of the plan gets
tested.
Friday evening 1900, 276 NM to
go.
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